2022 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in Wisconsin

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 Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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 Wisconsin, there were 1,044 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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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 Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k.
Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in Wisconsin
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 260 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, UW - La Crosse has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. It costs about $16,573 for Wisconsin Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.
The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UW - La Crosse Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k list. River Falls, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
UW - River Falls also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $16,138 for Wisconsin Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k list. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 53 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, UW - Parkside has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UW - Parkside is $14,993 for Wisconsin Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Parkside
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
UW - Stevens Point also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $16,425 for wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Stevens Point
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k list. UW - Eau Claire is a fairly large school located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin that handed out 117 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Eau Claire also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $18,196 for Wisconsin Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #6. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 108 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - Madison also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $21,860 for Wisconsin Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UW - Madison.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Madison
Viterbo University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k list. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, Viterbo has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Viterbo University is $20,508 for wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Viterbo University
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #8. UWM is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 80 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UWM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” list. It costs about $20,945 for wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UWM.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Carroll University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k list. This small school is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 86 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Carroll U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” list. The yearly cost to attend Carroll University is $23,985 for wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Carroll U
Cardinal Stritch University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Cardinal Stritch is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Cardinal Stritch not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cardinal Stritch is $19,540 for Wisconsin Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
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.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cardinal Stritch University
Marian University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Marian is a small school located in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin that handed out 23 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marian, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Marian University is $22,164 for wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Marian University
Wisconsin Lutheran College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. WLC is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, WLC has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WLC is $22,026 for Wisconsin Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
Full WLC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Ripon College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Ripon College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ripon, Wisconsin. It awarded 9 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k list, Ripon has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ripon College is $22,983 for Wisconsin Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Ripon Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Carthage College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Carthage is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 36 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Carthage, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Carthage College is $28,335 for Wisconsin Parks & Rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 Carthage
Concordia University, Wisconsin did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #15. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mequon, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Wisconsin did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” list. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Wisconsin is $24,207 for wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.
Full Concordia University, Wisconsin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Lakeland University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Wisconsin For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #16. Lakeland is a small school located in Plymouth, Wisconsin that handed out 19 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lakeland, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lakeland is $21,367 for wisconsin parks & rec students whose families make $75-$110k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lakeland
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Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in Wisconsin
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
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