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2022 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Kansas

13 Ranked Colleges
683 Degrees Awarded
$16,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 72,122 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Kansas, there were 683 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,550 and $24,347 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 13 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Kansas

#1

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Emporia State University landed the #1 spot on the list. ESU is a medium-sized school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

ESU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” list. The yearly cost to attend Emporia State University is $11,624 for kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at ESU

#2

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k. K -State is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 23 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, K -State has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $14,232 for Kansas Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at K -State

#3

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washburn University landed the #3 spot on the list. Washburn University is a public institution located in Topeka, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Washburn University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Washburn University is $11,054 for Kansas Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Washburn University

#4

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Kansas landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 180 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, KU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $14,387 for kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at KU

#5

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Pittsburg State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Pitt State is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 56 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Pitt State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” ranking. It costs about $10,638 for kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pitt State.

Full Pittsburg State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this fairly large public school awarded 86 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

WSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” list. The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $11,642 for kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at WSU

#7

Baker University

Baldwin City, Kansas

Baker University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Baldwin City, Kansas, and it awarded 40 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Baker has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Baker University is $18,825 for Kansas Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Baker

#8

Benedictine College

Atchison, Kansas

Benedictine College landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Atchison, Kansas, and it awarded 31 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Benedictine College, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Benedictine College is $18,742 for Kansas Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Benedictine College

#9

Sterling College

Sterling, Kansas

With a ranking of #9, Sterling College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k list. Sterling, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

Sterling College also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Sterling College is $16,298 for kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Sterling College

Central Christian College of Kansas ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k list. Central Christian College is a small school located in McPherson, Kansas that handed out 17 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Christian College also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $16,401 for Kansas Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Christian College.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Christian College

#11

Tabor College

Hillsboro, Kansas
#9 in overall quality

Tabor College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Tabor is a small school located in Hillsboro, Kansas that handed out 27 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Tabor also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for Tabor College is $21,218 for kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Tabor College

#12

Bethany College Kansas

Lindsborg, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

Bethany College Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Bethany College Kansas is a small school located in Lindsborg, Kansas that handed out 19 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Bethany College Kansas also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” ranking. It costs about $23,943 for Kansas Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bethany College Kansas.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bethany College Kansas

MidAmerica Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Kansas For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Olathe, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our kansas parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, MNU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MidAmerica Nazarene University is $25,359 for Kansas Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at MNU

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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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