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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Kansas (With Aid)

13 Ranked Colleges
617 Degrees Awarded
$19,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Kansas For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid” 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 Kansas, there were 683 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,550 and $24,347 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 617 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,246 and $24,894 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 13 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid.

Top 13 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Kansas (With Aid)

#1

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Emporia State University landed the #1 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Emporia, Kansas, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

ESU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Emporia State University is $14,822 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Emporia State University

#2

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Pittsburg State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Pittsburg, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 54 students in 2019-2020.

Pitt State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $14,436 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Pittsburg State University.

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

#3

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Washburn University landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Topeka, Kansas, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Washburn University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list. The yearly cost to attend Washburn University is $14,481 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#4

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Kansas. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 180 students in 2019-2020.

KU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Kansas is $18,918 for Kansas 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 86%.

Full University of Kansas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#5

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

K -State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for Kansas State University is $18,285 for Kansas 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 87%.

Full Kansas State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#6

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this fairly large public school handed out 52 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

WSU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $14,382 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Full Wichita State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Central Christian College of Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid list. McPherson, Kansas 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 17 students in 2019-2020.

Central Christian College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Christian College of Kansas is $14,386 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Full Central Christian College of Kansas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#8

Baker University

Baldwin City, Kansas
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Baker University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Baldwin City, Kansas, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Baker did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list. The yearly cost to attend Baker is $22,879 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 Baker University

#9

Tabor College

Hillsboro, Kansas
#9 in overall quality

Tabor College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid list. Tabor College is a small school located in Hillsboro, Kansas that handed out 27 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Tabor not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list. It costs about $24,221 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Tabor.

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

#10

Benedictine College

Atchison, Kansas
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Benedictine College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid list. Atchison, Kansas 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 31 students in 2019-2020.

Benedictine College also took the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Benedictine College is $23,011 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#11

Sterling College

Sterling, Kansas
#7 in overall quality

Sterling College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid list. Sterling College is located in Sterling, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Sterling College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sterling College is $20,090 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

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 Sterling College

#12

Bethany College Kansas

Lindsborg, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Bethany College Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid list. Lindsborg, Kansas 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 19 students in 2019-2020.

Bethany College Kansas also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bethany College Kansas is $23,343 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

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

#11 in overall quality

MidAmerica Nazarene University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas For Those Getting Aid ranking. MNU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Olathe, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MNU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MidAmerica Nazarene University is $26,222 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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 MNU

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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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