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2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region

165 Ranked Colleges
7,934 Degrees Awarded
$29,847 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.

In 2021-2022, 72,741 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In , parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $31,466 and had an average of $24,117 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 10,200 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,202 and $24,422 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 7,934 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,415 and $23,858 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 165 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. That schools that top this list have a program in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region

1
Trine crest
Trine University
Angola, Indiana

Out of the 165 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Trine University landed the #1 spot on the list. Trine University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Angola, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 88 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

2
Defiance College crest
Defiance College
Defiance, Ohio

Out of the 165 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Defiance College landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Defiance, Ohio, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Defiance College

3
Monmouth crest
Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Monmouth College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Monmouth College is located in Monmouth, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate 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.

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

4
Adrian crest
Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan

Out of the 165 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Adrian College landed the #4 spot on the list. Adrian College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Adrian, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

5
Carroll U crest
Carroll University
Waukesha, Wisconsin

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carroll University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Waukesha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 111 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

6

University of Mount Union came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Alliance, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 56 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Mount Union

7
Franklin College of Indiana crest
Franklin College
Franklin, Indiana

Franklin College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Franklin, Indiana, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Franklin College of Indiana

8

Heidelberg University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Tiffin, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

9
Bluffton crest
Bluffton University
Bluffton, Ohio

Bluffton University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Bluffton University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bluffton, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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

10
Olivet crest
Olivet College
Olivet, Michigan

With a ranking of #10, Olivet College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Olivet College is located in Olivet, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 33 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

11
Wilmington College crest
Wilmington College
Wilmington, Ohio

Wilmington College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Wilmington, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 40 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

12
Eureka College crest
Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois

Eureka College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eureka College is located in Eureka, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

13
Central State University crest
Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio

With a ranking of #13, Central State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Central State University is a public institution located in Wilberforce, Ohio. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

14
Hanover crest
Hanover College
Hanover, Indiana

Hanover College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Hanover College is a small school located in Hanover, Indiana that handed out 30 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

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

15

Ohio Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. This small school is located in Delaware, Ohio, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at OWU

16
Manchester University crest
Manchester University
North Manchester, Indiana

Manchester University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in North Manchester, Indiana, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

17
Wittenberg crest
Wittenberg University
Springfield, Ohio

Wittenberg University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wittenberg University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Springfield, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Wittenberg University

18

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 208 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, 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 Wisconsin - La Crosse

19

Concordia University, Ann Arbor ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 19 students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate 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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Concordia University, Ann Arbor Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

20
UIndy crest
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana

University of Indianapolis came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIndy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 93 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 UIndy

21
Greenville crest
Greenville University
Greenville, Illinois

With a ranking of #21, Greenville University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Greenville is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greenville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

22
John Carroll crest
John Carroll University
University Heights, Ohio

John Carroll University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. University Heights, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 64 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

23
Quincy U crest
Quincy University
Quincy, Illinois

Quincy University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Quincy, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

24
Lincoln College crest
Lincoln College
Lincoln, Illinois

Lincoln College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

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

25
UE crest
University of Evansville
Evansville, Indiana

University of Evansville came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Evansville is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 47 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 undergraduate 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 University of Evansville

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