2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
In 2019-2020, 72,122 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,823 and had an average of $24,576 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 2,352 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,766 and $23,636 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 22 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 39 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $1,866 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwestern
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 334 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $5,477 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 154 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $8,055 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 167 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $10,648 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIC.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 240 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $14,470 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 87 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, NIU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $15,281 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 138 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, EIU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $12,350 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.
Full EIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 118 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $13,658 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Monmouth College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Monmouth, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.
Monmouth did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $13,231 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Monmouth.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Monmouth
University of St Francis ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Saint Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Saint Francis not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Saint Francis is $15,847 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of St Francis
With a ranking of #11, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 157 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
WIU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,942 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend WIU.
Full Western Illinois University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Elmhurst University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Elmhurst, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.
Elmhurst also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst is $16,903 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Elmhurst Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Lewis University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Romeoville, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 31 students in 2019-2020.
Lewis also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Lewis is $12,821 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lewis University
Aurora University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Aurora University is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 60 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Aurora also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #19. The estimated yearly cost for Aurora is $14,103 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Aurora University
Quincy University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Quincy, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Quincy U has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Quincy University is $15,292 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Quincy U
Concordia University, Chicago landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 343 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Chicago also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $14,097 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Concordia University, Chicago Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Millikin University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Millikin is a small school located in Decatur, Illinois that handed out 24 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Millikin, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,656 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Millikin.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Millikin
McKendree University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lebanon, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.
McKendree also took the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,184 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend McKendree University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at McKendree University
With a ranking of #19, Trinity International University - Illinois did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Trinity International University - Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Deerfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
TIU Illinois also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Trinity International University - Illinois is $17,405 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
North Central College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 55 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
North Central did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Central College is $18,889 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full North Central College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #21. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Olivet Nazarene also took the #22 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene University is $15,806 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Olivet Nazarene
Benedictine University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Lisle, Illinois, and it awarded 14 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Benedictine U, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Benedictine University is $22,862 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Benedictine University
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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