2023 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
12
Ranked Colleges
444
Degrees Awarded
$11,000
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 166th most popular major in the country with 3,106 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,801 and had an average of $23,333 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Plains States region, there were 444 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,508 and $23,752 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 12 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation and leisure studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
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 $0-$30k” 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. 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 in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
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 $0-$30k. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $7,698 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, 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 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UMN Twin Cities
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UNI is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 60 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,513 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNI.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNI
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Iowa. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $13,554 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Full Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwest Missouri State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Maryville, Missouri that handed out 29 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $9,906 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwest Missouri State University.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northwest Missouri State University
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Missouri - Columbia landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,005 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Mizzou.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Missouri - Columbia
Winona State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. 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. The yearly cost to attend Winona State University is $11,721 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
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%.
Full Winona State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Pittsburg State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Pittsburg State University is a medium-sized school located in Pittsburg, Kansas that handed out 19 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pitt State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Pittsburg State University is $11,469 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Pittsburg State University
University of Minnesota - Duluth came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMN Duluth is located in Duluth, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
UMN Duluth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $7,843 for Plains States Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.
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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Minnesota - Duluth
University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 60 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNK has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,087 for plains states region parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UNK.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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
Southeast Missouri State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cape Girardeau, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
Southeast Missouri State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,359 for plains states region 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
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