2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois (With Aid)
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Getting Aid” 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. 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.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 21 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.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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 for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
Top 21 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 278 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $15,880 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 UIUC
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 Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 160 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, UIC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,312 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
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 UIC
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 Getting Aid list. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 100 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, EIU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Eastern Illinois University is $14,607 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
Full EIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 62 students in 2019-2020.
NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $18,259 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Northern Illinois University.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northern Illinois University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 89 students 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 $14,423 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
Full Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #6, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 6 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Saint Francis, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,538 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid 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 Saint Francis Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 94 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $16,945 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Full SIUC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Illinois State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 162 students in 2019-2020.
Illinois State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State University is $20,895 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
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%.
Full Illinois State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Western Illinois University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 83 bachelors’s parks and rec 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. It costs about $16,210 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Western Illinois University.
Full WIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Monmouth College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Monmouth, Illinois 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 23 students 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 yearly cost to attend Monmouth is $17,061 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.
Full Monmouth Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Quincy University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. This small school is located in Quincy, Illinois, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Quincy U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,497 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Quincy U.
Full Quincy U Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 71 students in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Chicago also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $16,512 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago
Aurora University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Aurora is located in Aurora, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 60 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Aurora also took the #18 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Aurora University is $17,215 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Aurora University
Millikin University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Decatur, Illinois 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.
In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, Millikin has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $21,331 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Millikin University.
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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Millikin University
Elmhurst University landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Elmhurst is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Elmhurst also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst is $21,485 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Elmhurst Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #16, Trinity International University - Illinois did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Deerfield, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
TIU Illinois not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Trinity International University - Illinois is $21,204 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Lewis University landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lewis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Romeoville, Illinois. It awarded 31 bachelors’s parks and rec 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 yearly cost to attend Lewis University is $18,664 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.
The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Lewis
Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Olivet Nazarene also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #21. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $20,195 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Olivet Nazarene University
McKendree University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. McKendree is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lebanon, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
McKendree also took the #20 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $19,844 for illinois bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend McKendree University.
Full McKendree University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
North Central College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. North Central is located in Naperville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 55 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
North Central also took the #6 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Central is $24,786 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at North Central College
Benedictine University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Lisle, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Benedictine U not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Benedictine University is $25,143 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.
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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
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