2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that 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 Illinois, there were 2,352 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,766 and $23,636 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs that also have a lower cost than 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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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 Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” list to help you make the college 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. 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 in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.
Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $6,452 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwestern University.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwestern University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 334 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, UIUC has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $13,351 for illinois 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 94%. 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UIUC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 167 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UIC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $13,683 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend UIC.
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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 154 students in 2019-2020.
SIUE did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $13,705 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Illinois University landed the #5 spot on the list. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 138 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, EIU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Eastern Illinois University is $13,560 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at EIU
Monmouth College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Monmouth, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 23 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Monmouth, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Monmouth College is $15,960 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Monmouth
Northern Illinois University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 87 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at NIU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $18,346 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NIU
University of St Francis landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Joliet, Illinois, and it awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
University of Saint Francis also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,220 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of St Francis.
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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of St Francis
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 118 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,985 for illinois 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
Quincy University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Quincy University is located in Quincy, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Quincy U also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend Quincy University is $16,717 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Full Quincy University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Illinois State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 240 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $19,080 for Illinois 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State
Concordia University, Chicago ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Concordia University, Chicago is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 343 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Concordia University, Chicago did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,295 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Concordia University, Chicago.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago
Western Illinois University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 157 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WIU, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $15,912 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Illinois University
Aurora University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #14. Aurora, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.
Aurora also took the #19 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $15,881 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Aurora University.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Aurora University
Elmhurst University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Elmhurst is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 28 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst University is $19,703 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
The low 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Elmhurst University
Millikin University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Millikin University is a small school located in Decatur, Illinois that handed out 24 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Millikin also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Millikin is $20,390 for illinois 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.
Full Millikin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Lewis University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Lewis University is a medium-sized school located in Romeoville, Illinois that handed out 31 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Lewis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lewis is $16,489 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lewis University
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene University is $17,841 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Olivet Nazarene University
Trinity International University - Illinois came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. TIU Illinois is located in Deerfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
TIU Illinois also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #15. It costs about $17,441 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Trinity International University - Illinois.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
North Central College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 55 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Central, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Central is $23,353 for illinois 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 ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Lebanon, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.
McKendree also took the #21 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $19,851 for Illinois Parks & Rec students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend McKendree.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at McKendree
Benedictine University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Benedictine U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lisle, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k list, Benedictine U has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Benedictine University is $24,523 for illinois parks & rec students whose families make $48-$75k.
Read more about 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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