2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois
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 Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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 Illinois, there were 2,352 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,766 and $23,636 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,555 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, we looked at 21 colleges that offer a degree 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.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Top 21 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 278 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,351 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full UIUC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 160 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,683 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 100 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
EIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $13,560 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend EIU.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Eastern Illinois University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 89 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUE also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $13,705 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full SIUE Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 62 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend NIU is $18,346 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NIU
Monmouth College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Monmouth, Illinois, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Monmouth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Monmouth College is $15,960 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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. The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Monmouth
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. SIUC is a fairly large school located in Carbondale, Illinois that handed out 94 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $14,985 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full SIUC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of St Francis ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of St Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
University of Saint Francis also took the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,220 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of St Francis.
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%.
Full University of St Francis Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Illinois State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 162 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State University is $19,080 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State
Quincy University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Quincy, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Quincy U also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Quincy U is $16,717 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Quincy U Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Western Illinois University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 83 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
WIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $15,912 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Illinois University
Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Concordia University, Chicago is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 71 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Concordia University, Chicago also took the #16 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $17,295 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago
With a ranking of #13, Aurora University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Aurora University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Aurora, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Aurora did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Aurora University is $15,881 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 Aurora University
Elmhurst University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 28 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst is $19,703 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Elmhurst Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Millikin University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Millikin is located in Decatur, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Millikin has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Millikin University is $20,390 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Millikin University
Lewis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #16. Lewis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Romeoville, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Lewis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lewis is $16,489 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lewis
With a ranking of #17, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Olivet Nazarene not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene University is $17,841 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 Olivet Nazarene
Trinity International University - Illinois landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Trinity International University - Illinois is located in Deerfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
TIU Illinois did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Trinity International University - Illinois is $17,441 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full TIU Illinois Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
North Central College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #19. North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Naperville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 55 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
North Central also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Central is $23,353 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 North Central
McKendree University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. McKendree is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lebanon, Illinois. It awarded 28 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
McKendree not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $19,851 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend McKendree University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at McKendree University
With a ranking of #21, Benedictine University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Lisle, Illinois, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Benedictine U, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $24,523 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Benedictine U.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Benedictine U
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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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