2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k
90
Ranked Colleges
10,384
Degrees Awarded
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 10,384 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,191 and $25,844 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 90 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
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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k” 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 in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 326 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $10,481 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, 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 96%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Out of the 90 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 62 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $5,849 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Northwestern Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 643 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $12,369 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at IU Bloomington
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 148 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,364 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 UW - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Purdue University - Main Campus is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 131 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $8,450 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Purdue
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 317 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, UIUC has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $11,505 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UIUC
Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 248 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $13,273 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio State
With a ranking of #8, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 252 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - La Crosse is $13,198 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.
Full UW - La Crosse Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #9, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 292 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Central Michigan also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $15,720 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Central Michigan.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Michigan
Ball State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Muncie, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 152 students in 2020-2021.
Ball State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $15,158 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Ball State University
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 155 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UIC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #25. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $14,105 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago
With a ranking of #12, Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 215 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,306 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.
Full Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #13, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 429 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Concordia University, Chicago also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Chicago is $15,903 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Grand Valley State University is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 290 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
GVSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,277 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at GVSU
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 107 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $12,675 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Eastern Illinois University
Valparaiso University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Valparaiso, Indiana, and it awarded 25 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Valpo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $21,256 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Valpo.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Valparaiso University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 136 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $14,499 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #18, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $14,737 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full UW - Eau Claire Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Wayne State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Wayne State University is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 94 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State University is $13,612 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Wayne State University
Western Illinois University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Western Illinois University is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 118 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $15,794 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Western Illinois University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #21. Miami University - Oxford is located in Oxford, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 348 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Miami University - Oxford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $23,513 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Miami University - Oxford
Aurora University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Aurora, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 90 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Aurora is $15,645 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Aurora
University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UW - River Falls is located in River Falls, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - River Falls is $14,528 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 UW - River Falls
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 130 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $12,950 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
With a ranking of #25, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. USI is located in Evansville, Indiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 81 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for USI is $14,486 for great lakes region parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at USI
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