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

16 Ranked Colleges
1,443 Degrees Awarded
$17,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

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 Iowa, there were 1,572 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,615 and $25,199 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,443 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,922 and $25,876 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 16 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.

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 Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa

#1 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 #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 238 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $10,843 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

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

#2

University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Northern Iowa. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and it awarded 113 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, UNI has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $12,495 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Northern Iowa.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Northern Iowa Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school awarded 652 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $15,073 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

#4

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Simpson College landed the #4 spot on the list. This small school is located in Indianola, Iowa, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Simpson College, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Simpson College is $15,323 for iowa 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Simpson College

#5

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Coe College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k. Coe College is a small school located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that handed out 11 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Coe also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $15,918 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Coe.

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 Coe

#6

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

Buena Vista University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. Buena Vista University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Storm Lake, Iowa. It awarded 18 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, BVU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for BVU is $12,773 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

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

#7

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

Cornell College landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Cornell College also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Cornell College is $21,970 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cornell College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#12 in overall quality

Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Graceland Lamoni is a small school located in Lamoni, Iowa that handed out 24 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Graceland Lamoni also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $17,337 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Graceland Lamoni.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Graceland Lamoni

#9

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

Loras College landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Loras is located in Dubuque, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 33 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Loras not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Loras College is $17,094 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#10

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa
#15 in overall quality

Wartburg College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Waverly, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, Wartburg has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $19,037 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wartburg.

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 Wartburg

#11

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#10 in overall quality

Grand View University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Des Moines, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 66 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Grand View University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $19,245 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Grand View University.

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

#12

Northwestern College

Orange City, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Northwestern College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k list. NWC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Orange City, Iowa. It awarded 21 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

NWC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The yearly cost to attend Northwestern College is $20,977 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 NWC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

Dordt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Dordt is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux Center, Iowa. It awarded 12 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Dordt also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dordt University is $22,177 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 Dordt

#14

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
#16 in overall quality

Upper Iowa University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UIU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fayette, Iowa. It awarded 11 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIU has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Upper Iowa University is $17,928 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

#15

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

Saint Ambrose University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Saint Ambrose University is located in Davenport, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 64 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

St. Ambrose University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Ambrose University is $24,516 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at St. Ambrose University

#16

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa
#14 in overall quality

University of Dubuque came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Dubuque is a small school located in Dubuque, Iowa that handed out 27 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UD also took the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $21,715 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UD.

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

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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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