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

65 Ranked Colleges
1,698 Degrees Awarded
$40,862 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes 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 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,698 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,182 and $43,142 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking looked at 65 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.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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.

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

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

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

1
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Concordia University, Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks & rec degrees to 250 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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grace College and Theological Seminary. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Grace College is located in Winona Lake, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 masters’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grace College and Theological Seminary

3
Adler crest
Adler University
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Adler University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Adler University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 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 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

4
UIndy crest
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana

Out of the 65 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Indianapolis landed the #4 spot on the list. UIndy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 45 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

5
Cardinal Stritch crest
Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Out of the 65 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Cardinal Stritch University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

6

Western Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school awarded 31 degrees to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

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%.

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

7

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 80 degrees to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

8
Wittenberg crest
Wittenberg University
Springfield, Ohio

Wittenberg University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Springfield, Ohio, and it awarded 6 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

9

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. OHIO Athens is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 154 masters’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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at OHIO Athens

10
Tiffin University crest
Tiffin University
Tiffin, Ohio

With a ranking of #10, Tiffin University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Tiffin University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tiffin, Ohio. It awarded 14 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Tiffin University

11
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks & rec degrees to 29 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Eastern Illinois University

12

Ohio Dominican University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 3 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Ohio Dominican University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

13

University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 30 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 University of Wisconsin - River Falls

14

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks & rec degrees to 40 students in 2021-2022.

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 UW - La Crosse

15
Adrian crest
Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan

Adrian College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Adrian is located in Adrian, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 masters’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

16
Carthage crest
Carthage College
Kenosha, Wisconsin

With a ranking of #16, Carthage College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Carthage College is a small school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 9 masters’s parks & rec 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Carthage College

17

With a ranking of #17, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 72 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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

18

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 27 masters’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 SIUC

19

University of Wisconsin - Parkside ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 19 masters’s parks & rec 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 UW - Parkside

20
Valpo crest
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. Valpo is a small school located in Valparaiso, Indiana that handed out 12 masters’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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Valpo

21
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 36 masters’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

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 Indiana State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

22
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. Aurora University is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 32 masters’s parks & rec 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%.

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

23
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #23. Wayne State is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 58 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.

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

24
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

With a ranking of #24, North Central College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 North Central

25
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

Northwestern University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 53 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.1% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%.

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

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