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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

15 Ranked Colleges
506 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 3,224 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 191st most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 521 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 506 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 15 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure 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 “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $12,556 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

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

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 126 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $13,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Missouri - Columbia

#3

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Northern Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 48 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UNI did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $15,729 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#4

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Winona State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Winona State University is a public institution located in Winona, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Winona State also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State University is $15,140 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Winona State

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest Missouri State University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Maryville, Missouri, this medium-sized public school handed out 43 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Northwest has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $11,988 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwest.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northwest

#7 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $12,438 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The 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 University of Minnesota - Duluth Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UNK is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 57 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UNK did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney is $15,343 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low 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%.

Full UNK Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#8

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 67 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $18,272 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Iowa.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 University of Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#12 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UNOMAHA is located in Omaha, Nebraska and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UNOMAHA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNOMAHA is $13,833 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#10

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

Southeast Missouri State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Southeast Missouri State University has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $12,882 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#11

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

Pittsburg State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Pittsburg State University is a public institution located in Pittsburg, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Pitt State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Pittsburg State University is $15,056 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Pitt State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#12

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

Emporia State University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. ESU is a medium-sized school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

ESU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $14,465 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Emporia State University.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at ESU

#9 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

Missouri State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,204 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#14

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

Lindenwood University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lindenwood University, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lindenwood University is $16,340 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#15

Baker University

Baldwin City, Kansas
#13 in overall quality

Baker University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Baldwin City, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Baker also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Baker is $21,800 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Baker University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

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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

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees 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.

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