2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking - to help you make that 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,596 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 48 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.
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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 48 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Northwestern Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 47 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
U-M also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.
Out of the 48 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 44 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UIUC
Out of the 48 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Madison
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 53 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at IU Bloomington
Michigan Technological University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Michigan Tech is a medium-sized school located in Houghton, Michigan that handed out 5 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Michigan Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Technological University are $21,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan Technological University
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 42 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio State
With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 41 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
UW - La Crosse also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - La Crosse are $20,038, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - La Crosse
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in River Falls, Wisconsin, and it awarded 17 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - River Falls are $18,233.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - River Falls
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 20 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan State University
University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 20 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Parkside are $18,768, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full UW - Parkside Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #12, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 11 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at IUPUI are $26,013, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. SIUE is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 65 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300.
University of Southern Indiana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #14. Located in Evansville, Indiana, this fairly large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USI are $20,039.
Full University of Southern Indiana Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Ball State University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State University are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ball State
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full UIC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #17, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 78 students in 2019-2020.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State
With a ranking of #18, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Michigan University
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large school located in Dekalb, Illinois that handed out 25 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northern Illinois University
With a ranking of #20, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Illinois University are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at EIU
Wayne State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayne State is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Wayne State University are $37,215, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Wayne State
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 24 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $0-$30k list, SIUC has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SIUC
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 9 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UWM are $25,295, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UWM
With a ranking of #24, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 74 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
WIU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at WIU
Grace College and Theological Seminary ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Winona Lake, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Grace College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Grace College and Theological Seminary are $7,872.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grace College
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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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
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