College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region

19 Ranked Colleges
444 Degrees Awarded
$25,000 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 19 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in parks, recreation and leisure studies.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Parks & Rec Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region”.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region parks & rec students.

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 116 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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

2

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 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 60 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UNI Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. 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.

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%.

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

4
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Out of the 19 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #4 spot on the list. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

5
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winona State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Winona State 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

6

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Northwest Missouri State University is located in Maryville, Missouri and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

7

With a ranking of #7, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

With a ranking of #8, Pittsburg State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Pittsburg State University is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

9

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Missouri State 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State University - Springfield Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

10
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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

10

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. 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.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

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

12

Emporia State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Emporia, Kansas, and 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%.

Full Emporia State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

13
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

With a ranking of #13, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Saint Charles, Missouri, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 6 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

14

With a ranking of #14, University of Nebraska at Omaha did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Omaha, Nebraska is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 3 students 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%.

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

15
Baker crest
Baker University
Baldwin City, Kansas

Baker University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 Baker

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 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. MSU-Bottineau is a public institution located in Bottineau, North Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at MSU-Bottineau

16
USD crest
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

With a ranking of #16, University of South Dakota did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. 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 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 full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at USD

16
BHSU crest
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

With a ranking of #16, Black Hills State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Spearfish, South Dakota, and it awarded 0 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at BHSU

16
Tabor crest
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas

Tabor College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Hillsboro, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 0 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Full Tabor College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options