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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

112 Ranked Colleges
8,021 Degrees Awarded
$10,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 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.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 112 colleges that offered 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

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 the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. 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 $30-$48k

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 $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 270 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $5,887 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at U-M

#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 #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 98 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $6,860 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 UW - Madison Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#3

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 528 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $6,192 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full IU Bloomington Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 278 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,464 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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%. 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#5

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#23 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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Purdue University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school awarded 88 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $5,879 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The 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 Purdue University - Main Campus Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 171 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took the #6 spot 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 $10,037 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

#5 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 219 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $9,795 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

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

#14 in overall quality

Michigan Technological University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Michigan Tech is located in Houghton, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Michigan Tech also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan Technological University is $9,049 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Michigan Tech

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 124 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $6,315 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.

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

#10

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 117 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 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 Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $11,828 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

University of Wisconsin - Parkside landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend UW - Parkside is $9,018 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#12

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Top 25% in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Stevens Point is a medium-sized school located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin that handed out 47 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point is $11,433 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

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 $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 89 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $9,938 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#17 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 160 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $11,185 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago

#15

Grand Valley State University

Allendale, Michigan
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. GVSU is a public institution located in Allendale, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 272 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

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. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Valley State University is $12,459 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#16

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. EIU is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 100 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $11,316 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Eastern Illinois University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#17

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 $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 142 students in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $10,487 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#18

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#22 in overall quality

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 328 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Central Michigan also took the #22 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,127 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Central Michigan.

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

#19

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville, Indiana

University of Southern Indiana came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. USI is a fairly large public school situated in Evansville, Indiana. It awarded 88 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,842 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend USI.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#20

Oakland University

Rochester Hills, Michigan

Oakland University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rochester Hills, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $7,751 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Oakland University.

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

#21

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
Top 25% in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of St Francis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Saint Francis is $11,229 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Saint Francis

#22

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Illinois State 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 $30-$48k ranking. Illinois State University is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 162 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Illinois State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,999 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois State University.

The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 Illinois State University

#23

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. 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 estimated yearly cost for NIU is $15,861 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full NIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#24

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#9 in overall quality

Michigan 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 $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 358 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $15,197 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#25

Saginaw Valley State University

University Center, Michigan

With a ranking of #25, Saginaw Valley State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Saginaw Valley State University is a medium-sized school located in University Center, Michigan that handed out 66 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Saginaw Valley State University is $11,734 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

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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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