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

132 Ranked Colleges
4,635 Degrees Awarded
$30,422 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Plains States region, there were 5,582 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,542 and $23,435 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,635 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,724 and $22,887 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 132 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies.

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 Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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

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

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

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ottawa University - Ottawa. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Ottawa University - Ottawa is a small school located in Ottawa, Kansas that handed out 27 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 Ottawa University - Ottawa Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

2
Bethany College Kansas crest
Bethany College Kansas
Lindsborg, Kansas

Out of the 132 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bethany College Kansas landed the #2 spot on the list. Bethany College Kansas is a small school located in Lindsborg, Kansas that handed out 26 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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

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

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend William Penn University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Oskaloosa, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 28 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

4
Missouri Valley College crest
Missouri Valley College
Marshall, Missouri

Out of the 132 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Missouri Valley College landed the #4 spot on the list. Missouri Valley College is located in Marshall, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad 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%.

Full Missouri Valley College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas Wesleyan University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Salina, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 32 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Kansas Wesleyan University

6
Tabor crest
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas

Tabor College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Tabor College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hillsboro, Kansas. It awarded 25 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

7
Sterling College crest
Sterling College
Sterling, Kansas

Sterling College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Sterling College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sterling, Kansas. It awarded 13 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

8

Westminster College Missouri ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Fulton, Missouri, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

9
McPherson College crest
McPherson College
McPherson, Kansas

With a ranking of #9, McPherson College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. McPherson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in McPherson, Kansas. It awarded 15 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

10
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa

With a ranking of #10, Grand View University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 56 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

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

11

Nebraska Wesleyan University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. NWU is a small school located in Lincoln, Nebraska that handed out 43 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad 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 NWU

12
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

With a ranking of #12, Cornell College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mount Vernon, Iowa. It awarded 22 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cornell College

13
Mount Marty crest
Mount Marty University
Yankton, South Dakota

Mount Marty University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Mount Marty University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Yankton, South Dakota. It awarded 19 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mount Marty

14
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Dubuque, Iowa, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Loras

15
Hastings crest
Hastings College
Hastings, Nebraska

Hastings College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Hastings is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hastings, Nebraska. It awarded 20 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees 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 Hastings Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

16

Saint Ambrose University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 75 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at St. Ambrose University

17

Culver - Stockton College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #17. Culver - Stockton is located in Canton, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Culver - Stockton College

18

Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Fayette, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 20 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full CMU CLAS Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

19

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized school located in Marshall, Minnesota that handed out 40 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad 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%.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

20
University of Sioux Falls crest
University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

With a ranking of #20, University of Sioux Falls did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Sioux Falls Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

21
Missouri Western crest
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri Western State University is a public institution located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

22

With a ranking of #22, Central Christian College of Kansas did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Central Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution located in McPherson, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Central Christian College of Kansas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

23
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Truman State University is located in Kirksville, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 78 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

24
BHSU crest
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Spearfish, South Dakota, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

25

Hannibal - LaGrange University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Hannibal - LaGrange University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hannibal, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hannibal - LaGrange University

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