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

22 Ranked Colleges
1,966 Degrees Awarded
$13,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 72,122 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Michigan, there were 2,219 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,195 and $25,918 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,966 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,161 and $25,915 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 22 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 22 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Michigan

#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 Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 270 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our michigan 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 Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $3,166 for michigan 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 96%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan Technological University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k. Michigan Technological University is a medium-sized public school situated in Houghton, Michigan. It awarded 31 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan Tech also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list, coming in at #4. The yearly cost to attend Michigan Technological University is $8,295 for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, 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 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#3

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 358 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list, coming in at #2. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $6,686 for Michigan 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 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#4

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Valley State University landed the #4 spot on the list. 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.

In addition to being on our michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, GVSU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. It costs about $11,578 for michigan 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%.

Full Grand Valley State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#5

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Central Michigan University landed the #5 spot on the list. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 328 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. It costs about $11,598 for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Michigan University.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Michigan University

#6

Lake Superior State University

Sault Ste Marie, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Lake Superior State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lake Superior State University is a small public school situated in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. It awarded 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Superior State University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Lake Superior State University is $7,067 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lake Superior State University

#7

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Saginaw Valley State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in University Center, Michigan, this medium-sized public school awarded 66 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Saginaw Valley State University has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saginaw Valley State University is $10,522 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Saginaw Valley State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#8

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan
#15 in overall quality

Oakland University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k list. Oakland University is a fairly large public school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 11 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Oakland not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. It costs about $7,490 for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Oakland University.

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

#9

Northern Michigan University

Marquette, Michigan
#20 in overall quality

Northern Michigan University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Marquette, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 57 students in 2019-2020.

Northern Michigan University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. The yearly cost to attend Northern Michigan University is $9,137 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northern Michigan University

#10

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan
#10 in overall quality

Western Michigan University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 107 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WMU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $13,021 for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#11

Aquinas College Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Aquinas College Michigan did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

Aquinas College Michigan also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Aquinas College Michigan is $13,510 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Aquinas College Michigan

#12

Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Eastern Michigan University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and it awarded 123 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Eastern Michigan also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Michigan is $13,904 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#13

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

Wayne State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Wayne State is a large public school situated in Detroit, Michigan. It awarded 4 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wayne State, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. It costs about $11,413 for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wayne State.

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

#14

Hope College

Holland, Michigan
#3 in overall quality

Hope College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k list. Holland, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

Hope also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Hope College is $16,113 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

#15

Northwood University

Midland, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Northwood University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Midland, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 26 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Northwood did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwood is $14,573 for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

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

#16

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, Michigan
#19 in overall quality

Spring Arbor University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k list. Spring Arbor University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Spring Arbor also took the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. It costs about $14,962 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Spring Arbor.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Spring Arbor University

#17

Davenport University

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#21 in overall quality

Davenport University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Davenport University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Davenport University, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Davenport University is $15,751 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Davenport University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#18

Olivet College

Olivet, Michigan
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Olivet College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k list. Olivet College is located in Olivet, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Olivet did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. It costs about $20,867 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Olivet College.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Olivet College

#19

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

Cornerstone University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cornerstone is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornerstone not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cornerstone is $18,169 for Michigan Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cornerstone

#20

Adrian College

Adrian, Michigan
#9 in overall quality

Adrian College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Adrian College is a small school located in Adrian, Michigan that handed out 34 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Adrian also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Adrian College is $24,964 for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

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

#21

Calvin University

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Calvin University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k list. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

Calvin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” list. The estimated yearly cost for Calvin is $21,344 for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#22

Concordia University, Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#17 in overall quality

Concordia University, Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Michigan For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, Concordia University, Ann Arbor has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Michigan” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Ann Arbor is $22,810 for michigan bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Ann Arbor

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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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