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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region

19 Ranked Colleges
444 Degrees Awarded
$25,000 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region

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 “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 3,106 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 166th most popular in the United States. 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.

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. That schools that top this list have a program in parks, recreation and leisure studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

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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 “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

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

1

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 Nebraska at Kearney landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Nebraska at Kearney is located in Kearney, Nebraska and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNK

2
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

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 located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

3
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Winona State University is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

4

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 public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

5

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 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.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

6
Pitt State crest
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Pitt State is a public institution located in Pittsburg, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Pittsburg State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Minnesota - 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.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

8
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This large school is located in Iowa City, Iowa, and 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.

Full University of Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

9
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region 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.

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

10
ESU crest
Emporia State University
Emporia, Kansas

Emporia State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

11
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

Lindenwood University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 Lindenwood University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

12
Baker crest
Baker University
Baldwin City, Kansas

Baker University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Baker University is located in Baldwin City, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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.

Full Baker Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

13

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 is a large school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 13 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

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

14

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. UNOMAHA is a public institution located in Omaha, Nebraska. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska at Omaha Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

15

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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

16
Tabor crest
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas

Tabor College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Hillsboro, Kansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Tabor College

16
USD crest
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, this medium-sized public school awarded 0 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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 University of South Dakota Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

16
BHSU crest
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. BHSU is a public institution located in Spearfish, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Black Hills State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

16
MSU-Bottineau crest
Dakota College at Bottineau
Bottineau, North Dakota

Dakota College at Bottineau came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Dakota College at Bottineau is a small public school situated in Bottineau, North Dakota. It awarded 0 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Dakota College at Bottineau

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