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 $48-$75k) in Iowa

16 Ranked Colleges
1,443 Degrees Awarded
$30,615 Avg Salary
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this 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 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 $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 16 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.

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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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

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 Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Iowa

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Ames, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 238 students in 2019-2020.

Iowa State also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa State University is $14,161 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about 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 $48-$75k list. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this medium-sized public school awarded 113 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UNI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Northern Iowa is $15,729 for iowa 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

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

#3

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Iowa landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 652 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $18,272 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Iowa.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

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

#4

Simpson College

Indianola, Iowa
#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Simpson College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Indianola, Iowa, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Simpson College also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $14,790 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Simpson College.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 Simpson College

#5

Buena Vista University

Storm Lake, Iowa
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Buena Vista University landed the #5 spot on the list. Buena Vista University is a small school located in Storm Lake, Iowa that handed out 18 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

BVU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Buena Vista University is $15,292 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

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

#6

Coe College

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
#7 in overall quality

Coe College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Coe College is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Coe not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $18,375 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k 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%.

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

#7

Loras College

Dubuque, Iowa
#6 in overall quality

Loras College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Loras is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Loras did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $18,438 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Loras.

The low student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Loras College

#12 in overall quality

Graceland University - Lamoni landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lamoni, Iowa 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 24 students in 2019-2020.

Graceland Lamoni also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Graceland Lamoni is $18,800 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Graceland University - Lamoni

#9

Northwestern College

Orange City, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

Northwestern College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #9. Orange City, Iowa 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 21 students in 2019-2020.

NWC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for NWC is $20,364 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#10

Grand View University

Des Moines, Iowa
#10 in overall quality

Grand View University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 66 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Grand View University also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Grand View University is $18,213 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

#11

Cornell College

Mount Vernon, Iowa
#8 in overall quality

Cornell College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cornell College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Cornell College is $23,700 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cornell College

#12

Wartburg College

Waverly, Iowa
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Wartburg College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Wartburg is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Waverly, Iowa. It awarded 12 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wartburg, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $18,418 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Wartburg College.

The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Wartburg

#13

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#13 in overall quality

Dordt University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 diplomas 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 $48-$75k list, Dordt has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. It costs about $22,821 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Dordt.

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%.

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

#14

Upper Iowa University

Fayette, Iowa
#16 in overall quality

Upper Iowa University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k list. Upper Iowa University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fayette, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” list. It costs about $18,943 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Upper Iowa University.

Full Upper Iowa University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#15

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

Saint Ambrose University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. St. 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 St. Ambrose University is $27,002 for Iowa Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Saint Ambrose University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#16

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, Iowa
#14 in overall quality

University of Dubuque landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Iowa For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UD is located in Dubuque, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 27 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, UD has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Iowa” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Dubuque is $28,437 for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.

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

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