Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

88 Ranked Colleges
5,005 Degrees Awarded
$10,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 the Plains States region, there were 5,808 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,644 and $24,923 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,005 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 88 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States 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 Plains States 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 Plains States Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Minnesota - Morris is located in Morris, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for UMN Morris is $3,435 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#2

Truman State University

Kirksville, Missouri
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Truman State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Truman State is a small public school situated in Kirksville, Missouri. It awarded 104 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, Truman State has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,269 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Truman State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 104 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $8,418 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UMN Twin Cities

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Iowa State University is a public institution located in Ames, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 238 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State 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 Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $10,843 for Plains States 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

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

#23 in overall quality

Out of the 88 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,992 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMN Duluth.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#6 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #6. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 126 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - Columbia is $11,595 for Plains States 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#7

Chadron State College

Chadron, Nebraska
#1 in overall quality

Chadron State College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Chadron, Nebraska, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, Chadron State College has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Chadron State College is $11,172 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Chadron State College

University of Minnesota - Crookston did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. UMN Crookston is a small school located in Crookston, Minnesota that handed out 15 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for UMN Crookston is $7,948 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full University of Minnesota - Crookston Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#9

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, St Olaf College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northfield, Minnesota 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 32 students in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend St. Olaf is $12,276 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, 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 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Olaf Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 79 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State University, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University is $12,544 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#11

Dickinson State University

Dickinson, North Dakota

Dickinson State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Dickinson, North Dakota, this small public school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend DSU is $7,955 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#14 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 151 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also took the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $11,781 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 Minnesota State University - Mankato Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#11 in overall quality

Winona State University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Winona State is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 107 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Winona State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $13,606 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Winona State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

Missouri Southern State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Joplin, Missouri is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,416 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri Southern State University.

Full Missouri Southern State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#15

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#15 in overall quality

University of Northern Iowa ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 113 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNI has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,495 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UNI.

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

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

University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 68 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Omaha is $11,460 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#17

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#17 in overall quality

University of North Dakota landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 38 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, UND has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UND is $11,916 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Dakota

With a ranking of #18, Northwest Missouri State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Maryville, Missouri that handed out 43 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Northwest Missouri State University is $9,863 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Southwest Minnesota State University is a public institution located in Marshall, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $11,410 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#20

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

With a ranking of #20, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. St. Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $11,274 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend St. Cloud State University.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at St. Cloud State University

#21

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

University of Iowa ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 652 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $15,073 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#22

Missouri Western State University

Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Missouri Western State University is a public institution located in Saint Joseph, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 51 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $9,096 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri Western State University.

Full Missouri Western Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#19 in overall quality

University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Kearney, Nebraska, and it awarded 81 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNK, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney is $13,417 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%.

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

#24

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#13 in overall quality

South Dakota State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

South Dakota State also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State University is $16,273 for plains states region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#25

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas

Pittsburg State University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Pittsburg, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $11,973 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Pitt State.

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

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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

Featured Athletic Training Schools

Find Schools Near You