2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois
17
Ranked Colleges
703
Degrees Awarded
$41,976
Avg Salary
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Illinois” 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 Illinois, there were 2,341 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,368 and $23,353 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 703 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,827 and $47,424 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 17 colleges that offered a degree 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.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
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 Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois” 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. 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 Illinois
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois”.
Top 17 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois. Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 250 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago
Out of the 17 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Adler University landed the #2 spot on the list. Adler is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 14 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Adler
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Illinois University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 80 masters’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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Illinois University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 29 masters’s parks & rec degrees 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
Illinois State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Illinois State University is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 72 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State University
With a ranking of #7, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 27 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SIUC
Aurora University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #8. This medium-sized school is located in Aurora, Illinois, and it awarded 32 masters’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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Aurora University
With a ranking of #9, North Central College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Located in Naperville, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.
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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at North Central College
Northwestern University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 53 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 99%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwestern University
Northern 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 Illinois ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 28 masters’s parks & rec degrees 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%.
Full Northern Illinois University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 54 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
With a ranking of #13, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 3 masters’s parks & rec 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northeastern Illinois University
Roosevelt University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Roosevelt is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 masters’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Roosevelt University
DePaul University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. DePaul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at DePaul
University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 9 masters’s parks & rec 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 UIC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Benedictine University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Benedictine U is located in Lisle, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 masters’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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%.
Full Benedictine U Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income less than $30k in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $48-$75k in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income Over $110k) in Illinois
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income exceeding $110k in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois (With Aid)
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students getting aid in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $30-$48k in Illinois
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students with family income $75-$110k in Illinois
Highest Paid Master's Degree Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Graduates in Illinois
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in Illinois
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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate 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
