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2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

12 Ranked Colleges
444 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 3,106 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 218th most popular in the United States.

Across the Plains States region, there were 444 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 Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation and leisure studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation and leisure studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UMN Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Twin Cities is $12,911 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UMN Twin Cities

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwest Missouri State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwest is located in Maryville, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Northwest also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,127 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwest.

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

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Columbia, Missouri, this large public school awarded 116 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Mizzou also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Columbia is $13,715 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Missouri - Columbia

4
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Northern Iowa 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNI, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNI is $15,287 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

5
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Winona State University landed the #5 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 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Winona State also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,289 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Winona State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

6
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k 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 yearly cost to attend Iowa is $18,026 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

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

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UNK also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $16,311 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney.

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%.

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

8
Pitt State crest
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas

With a ranking of #8, Pittsburg State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Pitt State is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Pitt State has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Pittsburg State University is $14,800 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

9

University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $13,364 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k 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 full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UMN Duluth

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 $48-$75k ranking. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southeast Missouri State University, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $13,157 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

11

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a large public school situated in Springfield, Missouri. It awarded 13 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Missouri State is $15,950 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Studies at Missouri State University - Springfield

12
ESU crest
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Emporia State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Emporia, Kansas. It awarded 8 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

ESU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Emporia State University is $15,070 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 ESU

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