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2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

12 Ranked Colleges
444 Degrees Awarded
$11,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Plains States 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 Plains States region, there were 444 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 12 colleges that offer 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.

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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 “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

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

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $7,698 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 Studies at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

2
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UNI is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNI is $10,513 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Northern Iowa

3
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $13,554 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Studies at University of Iowa

4

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwest Missouri State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Maryville, Missouri that handed out 29 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwest, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest Missouri State University is $9,906 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northwest Missouri State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 116 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,005 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Full University of Missouri - Columbia Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

6
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

With a ranking of #6, Winona State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Winona State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $11,721 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Winona State University.

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 Studies at Winona State

7
Pitt State crest
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas

With a ranking of #7, Pittsburg State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pitt State is a medium-sized school located in Pittsburg, Kansas that handed out 19 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Pitt State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pitt State is $11,469 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Pittsburg State University

8

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 21 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,843 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMN Duluth.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Minnesota - Duluth

9

With a ranking of #9, University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 60 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

UNK did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNK is $14,087 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UNK Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

10
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Southeast Missouri State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,359 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southeast Missouri State University

11

Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 13 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Missouri State has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $12,381 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Missouri State University - Springfield

12
ESU crest
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas

With a ranking of #12, Emporia State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Emporia, Kansas, this medium-sized public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

ESU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Emporia State University is $11,465 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 Emporia State University

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