2023 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region
19
Ranked Colleges
444
Degrees Awarded
$25,000
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” 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.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 19 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in parks, recreation and leisure studies.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to 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.
Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region”.
Top 19 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Nebraska at Kearney. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. This medium-sized school is located in Kearney, Nebraska, and it awarded 60 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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
Out of the 19 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Northern Iowa landed the #2 spot on the list. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 60 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNI
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Winona State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwest Missouri State University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Northwest Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Maryville, Missouri. It awarded 29 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Northwest Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
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 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 116 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Mizzou
Pittsburg State University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Pittsburg, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Pittsburg State University
University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 University of Minnesota - Duluth
With a ranking of #8, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region 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.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Iowa
With a ranking of #9, Southeast Missouri State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. 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.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southeast Missouri State University
Emporia State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region 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.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at ESU
With a ranking of #11, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Lindenwood University
Baker University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Baldwin City, Kansas, and it awarded 2 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Baker University
Missouri State University - Springfield ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Missouri State University - Springfield is located in Springfield, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Full Missouri State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
With a ranking of #14, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 3 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMN Twin Cities Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Tabor College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Tabor is a small school located in Hillsboro, Kansas that handed out 0 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Tabor College
University of South Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. University of South Dakota is a medium-sized public school situated in Vermillion, South Dakota. It awarded 0 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of South Dakota
With a ranking of #16, Dakota College at Bottineau did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Bottineau, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 0 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at MSU-Bottineau
Black Hills State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. Spearfish, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
Full Black Hills State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
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Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students with family income less than $30k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
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Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students with family income exceeding $110k in the Plains States Region
Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Online Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
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Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students getting aid in the Plains States Region
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students with family income $30-$48k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
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Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies students in the Plains States Region
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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate 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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