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2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k

112 Ranked Colleges
8,021 Degrees Awarded
$20,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 the Great Lakes region, there were 10,194 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,368 and $24,957 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 8,021 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” ranking analyzed 112 colleges that offered 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k” list to help you make the college decision.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Great Lakes Region

#5 in overall quality

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 Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 219 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,580 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, 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 86%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - La Crosse

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 270 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $15,336 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. The school came in at #3 for the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 117 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $16,020 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside. The school came in at #4 for the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a small school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 32 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $11,327 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Full UW - Parkside Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#5

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. The school came in at #5 for the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $14,465 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Full UW - Stevens Point Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #6. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and it awarded 328 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #22. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $15,981 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

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

#7

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school handed out 528 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $13,253 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend IU Bloomington.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington

#14 in overall quality

Michigan Technological University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Michigan Technological University is located in Houghton, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Michigan Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan Technological University is $16,463 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Michigan Technological University

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 124 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,285 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.

Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#10

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Saginaw Valley State University is located in University Center, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 66 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $14,248 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Saginaw Valley State University.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Saginaw Valley State University

#11

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #11. USI is a public institution located in Evansville, Indiana. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 88 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $13,437 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Southern Indiana.

The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Southern Indiana Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#12

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 88 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,986 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#13

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#21 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 272 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,646 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend GVSU.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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%.

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

#14

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
Top 25% in overall quality

University of St Francis came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Saint Francis is $17,538 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

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%.

Full University of Saint Francis Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 171 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $17,616 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Ohio State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#16

Quincy University

Quincy, Illinois

Quincy University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Quincy University is a small school located in Quincy, Illinois that handed out 21 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,497 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Quincy U.

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

#17

Youngstown State University

Youngstown, Ohio

Youngstown State University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 53 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $11,947 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

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

#18

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #18, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $14,607 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Eastern Illinois University

#3 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 278 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UIUC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $15,880 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#17 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 160 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k list, UIC has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,312 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

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%.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#21

Monmouth College

Monmouth, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Monmouth College did quite well on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. Monmouth is a private not-for-profit institution located in Monmouth, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Monmouth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Monmouth College is $17,061 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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 College

#22

Olivet College

Olivet, Michigan

Olivet College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. Olivet is a small school located in Olivet, Michigan that handed out 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $21,464 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend Olivet College.

Full Olivet College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus ranked #23 on this year’s Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k list. BGSU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 138 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for BGSU is $18,394 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

#7 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 98 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,708 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make more than $110k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#25

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Vallue Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making Over $110k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 62 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NIU is $18,259 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make more than $110k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northern Illinois 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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