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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

15 Ranked Colleges
506 Degrees Awarded
$16,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

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 Getting Aid” ranking.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 191st most popular major in the country with 3,224 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

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.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 15 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation and leisure studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region (With Aid)

#1 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 Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Missouri - Columbia is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 126 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $16,001 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#2

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 #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. 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 $15,620 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.

Full UNI Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of 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 Getting Aid. University of Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 67 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $19,145 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#4

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $17,740 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Nebraska at Kearney 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. It costs about $16,017 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend UNK.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNK

#6

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#5 in overall quality

Winona State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 38 degrees 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 with aid list, Winona State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $17,656 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Winona State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#10 in overall quality

Northwest Missouri State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest is $12,354 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northwest

#12 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, this fairly large public school handed out 8 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 with aid list, UNOMAHA has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,040 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend UNOMAHA.

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

#9

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas
#11 in overall quality

Pittsburg State University 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 Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Pittsburg, Kansas, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s parks and rec 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 estimated yearly cost for Pitt State is $14,436 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Full Pitt State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#10

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

Emporia State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Emporia State University is a medium-sized school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, ESU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,822 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend ESU.

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

#11

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri
#15 in overall quality

Southeast Missouri State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Southeast Missouri State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southeast Missouri State University is $12,774 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#9 in overall quality

Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State is $16,725 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#7 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $17,067 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

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

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#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 Getting Aid 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.

Lindenwood University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lindenwood University is $17,491 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Lindenwood University

#15

Baker University

Baldwin City, Kansas
#13 in overall quality

Baker University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Baker University is located in Baldwin City, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Baker also made our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $22,879 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Baker.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

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

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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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