2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois
53
Ranked Colleges
2,442
Degrees Awarded
$27,700
Avg Cost*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 2,442 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,264 and $24,988 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois” ranking looked at 53 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs in the United States.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois parks & rec students.
Top 25 Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois
Out of the 53 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 429 students in 2020-2021.
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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 317 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UIUC
Out of the 53 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Illinois State is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 223 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State University
Out of the 53 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. UIC is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 155 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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 University of Illinois at Chicago
Out of the 53 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 136 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full SIUC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 130 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full SIUE Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Western Illinois University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 118 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at WIU
Eastern Illinois University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 107 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at EIU
Northern Illinois University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 98 students in 2020-2021.
Full Northern Illinois University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Aurora University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Aurora, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 90 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Aurora Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northwestern University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 62 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwestern University
North Central College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 55 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full North Central College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Monmouth College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Monmouth, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 31 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Monmouth College
With a ranking of #14, Lewis University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Lewis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Romeoville, Illinois. It awarded 30 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full Lewis University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #14, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Olivet Nazarene
McKendree University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. McKendree is located in Lebanon, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at McKendree
Elmhurst University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 25 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Elmhurst Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #18, DePaul University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended 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 23 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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 DePaul
Saint Xavier University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #19. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Saint Xavier University
Greenville University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Greenville University is a small school located in Greenville, Illinois that handed out 21 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Greenville University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of St Francis ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. University of Saint Francis is a small school located in Joliet, Illinois that handed out 19 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full University of Saint Francis Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Judson University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Judson is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. 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 Judson
Millikin University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Millikin is located in Decatur, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
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.
Full Millikin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Quincy University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Located in Quincy, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Quincy U
Trinity Christian College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. This small school is located in Palos Heights, Illinois, and it awarded 17 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Trinity Christian Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
college factual
