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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

15 Ranked Colleges
506 Degrees Awarded
$11,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. 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 $0-$30k” ranking.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 152nd most popular major in the country with 3,224 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,957 and had an average of $22,487 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 521 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,750 and $23,096 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 $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 $0-$30k”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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 Making $0-$30k

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

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region

#1

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

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 for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $7,266 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

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 $0-$30k. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 126 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Mizzou has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $10,940 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#3

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 #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 48 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UNI also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $10,757 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UNI Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This fairly large school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees 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 yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth is $7,443 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

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

#5

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k 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 38 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k 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. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $12,381 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#6

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

With a ranking of #6, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 67 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $12,975 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#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 Making $0-$30k list. Northwest is a medium-sized public school situated in Maryville, Missouri. It awarded 43 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwest not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwest is $9,990 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#12 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large public school situated in Omaha, Nebraska. It awarded 8 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

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. It costs about $10,490 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha

University of Nebraska at Kearney 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 $0-$30k 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #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 $13,078 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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%.

Full UNK Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

#10

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Emporia, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ESU, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ESU is $11,624 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#11

Southeast Missouri State University

Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri 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 $0-$30k ranking. 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.

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. It costs about $9,092 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Southeast Missouri State University.

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

#12

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Pittsburg, Kansas, this medium-sized public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Pitt State also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,638 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Pittsburg State University.

Full Pitt State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

With a ranking of #13, Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri State is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 30 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Missouri State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Missouri State University - Springfield is $12,527 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#14

Lindenwood University

Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees 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. It costs about $14,388 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lindenwood University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#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 $0-$30k list. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Baker is $18,825 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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.

Read more about 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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