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2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

8 Ranked Colleges
475 Degrees Awarded
$11,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 218th most popular major in the country with 3,106 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 475 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 8 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation and leisure studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools

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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 “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 8 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 142 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $4,858 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UIUC

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 160 students in 2020-2021.

IU Bloomington also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $5,752 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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 IU Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

3
Northern Michigan University crest
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

Out of the 8 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Michigan University landed the #3 spot on the list. Marquette, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northern Michigan University has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Michigan University is $8,958 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northern Michigan University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 44 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $11,665 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SIUC Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 35 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio University - Athens Campus is $17,614 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Ohio University - Athens Campus

6

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. This fairly large school is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, and it awarded 45 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

BGSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,079 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

7

University of Toledo did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

University of Toledo also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $13,803 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Toledo.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Toledo

8
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. 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 6 students in 2020-2021.

Olivet Nazarene also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene is $16,451 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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 Studies at Olivet Nazarene University

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References

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