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2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k

12 Ranked Colleges
1,355 Degrees Awarded
$12,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.

Across Missouri, there were 1,355 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,909 and $24,765 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 12 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.

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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Missouri

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 120 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” list. It costs about $11,386 for Missouri Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Missouri - Columbia.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full Mizzou Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest Missouri State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k list. Maryville, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.

Northwest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” list. It costs about $10,608 for missouri parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwest.

Full Northwest Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

3
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Truman State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k list. Kirksville, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 92 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Truman State, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Truman State is $8,898 for missouri parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

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

4
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southeast Missouri State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k list. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized school located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri that handed out 46 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $11,406 for Missouri Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Southeast Missouri State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

5
UCM crest
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Central Missouri. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k. Warrensburg, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 108 students in 2020-2021.

UCM also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UCM is $12,120 for missouri parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

6

Missouri Southern State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Joplin, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 40 students in 2020-2021.

Missouri Southern also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Southern State University is $7,731 for missouri parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Missouri Southern

7
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 128 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Lindenwood University also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $13,008 for Missouri Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 Lindenwood University

8

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 149 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our missouri parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, Missouri State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $13,144 for missouri parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

9
Missouri Western crest
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, Missouri

With a ranking of #9, Missouri Western State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k list. Missouri Western State University is a public institution located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 72 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri Western also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Western is $9,372 for Missouri Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Missouri Western Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

10
Avila crest
Avila University
Kansas City, Missouri

Avila University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 29 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Avila did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Avila is $17,089 for Missouri Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Avila Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

11

Maryville University of Saint Louis came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 49 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Maryville U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Maryville U is $22,167 for Missouri Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Maryville U Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

12
MBU crest
Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #12, Missouri Baptist University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Missouri For Those Making $30-$48k list. MBU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 50 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

MBU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Missouri” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri Baptist University is $17,265 for Missouri Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Missouri Baptist University

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