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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

112 Ranked Colleges
8,021 Degrees Awarded
$8,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 72,122 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $29,823 and had an average of $24,576 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 10,194 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,368 and $24,957 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 8,021 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 112 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness 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 Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes 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 Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 270 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, U-M has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,166 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, 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 96%.

Full U-M Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 278 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 98 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,367 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#4

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #4 spot on the list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 528 students in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $4,969 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, 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 91%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington

#14 in overall quality

Out of the 112 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Michigan Technological University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Houghton, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech also took the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $8,295 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan Technological University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan Technological University

#6 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 171 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ohio State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $8,194 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 219 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - La Crosse, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $7,939 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UW - La Crosse.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - La Crosse

#8

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#9 in overall quality

Michigan State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 358 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,686 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan State University.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Michigan State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#9

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#23 in overall quality

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 88 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Purdue, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $5,483 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Full Purdue University - Main Campus Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school awarded 124 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is $5,052 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

#11

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 117 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $11,528 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Eau Claire

University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. UW - Parkside is a public institution located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,652 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside.

Full University of Wisconsin - Parkside Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $11,446 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

#14

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Ball State is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 142 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $8,403 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ball State

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 89 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for SIUE is $8,055 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 160 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $10,648 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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, & Fitness Studies at UIC

#17

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USI is a fairly large school located in Evansville, Indiana that handed out 88 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend USI is $8,244 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Southern Indiana

#18

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#21 in overall quality

Grand Valley State University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 272 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GVSU, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,578 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend GVSU.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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, & Fitness Studies at GVSU

#19

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

Central Michigan University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan that handed out 328 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Central Michigan has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $11,598 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Michigan University

#20

Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

Lake Superior State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Lake Superior State University is $7,067 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Lake Superior State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#21

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Illinois State University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 162 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $14,470 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#22

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 62 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend NIU is $15,281 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NIU

#23

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school handed out 66 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Saginaw Valley State University is $10,522 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Saginaw Valley State University

#24

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 100 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $12,350 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Eastern Illinois University

#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Miami University - Oxford did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oxford, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 286 students in 2019-2020.

Miami University - Oxford also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,759 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Miami University - Oxford

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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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