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2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid

18 Ranked Colleges
889 Degrees Awarded
$18,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 72,122 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 Minnesota, there were 1,085 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,884 and $24,327 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 889 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,526 and $26,035 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree 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.

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. 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 for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

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. 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 Minnesota For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Top 18 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Minnesota (With Aid)

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid list. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 151 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $16,221 for minnesota 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 Minnesota State Mankato Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Crookston. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid. University of Minnesota - Crookston is a small public school situated in Crookston, Minnesota. It awarded 15 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Crookston not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $10,952 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Crookston.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UMN Crookston

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Morris. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Morris, Minnesota, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Morris, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Morris is $11,412 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Full UMN Morris Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#4

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 104 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, UMN Twin Cities has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $17,740 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#5

Winona State University

Winona, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid. Winona State is located in Winona, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 107 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Winona State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Winona State is $17,656 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#6

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Saint Cloud State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid list. St. Cloud State University is a fairly large school located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota that handed out 17 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Cloud State University is $14,267 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at St. Cloud State University

#11 in overall quality

Southwest Minnesota State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid list. Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Southwest Minnesota State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $14,397 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Southwest Minnesota State University.

Full Southwest Minnesota State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid list. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 55 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Duluth, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $17,067 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The low student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 University of Minnesota - Duluth Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#9

Concordia University, Saint Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid list. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 99 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, Concordia University, Saint Paul has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $16,245 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Concordia University, Saint Paul.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Saint Paul

#12 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Moorhead landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid ranking. MSU Moorhead is a medium-sized public school situated in Moorhead, Minnesota. It awarded 37 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Moorhead, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $16,893 for minnesota 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%.

Full MSU Moorhead Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#11

Bemidji State University

Bemidji, Minnesota
#17 in overall quality

Bemidji State University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bemidji State University is a public institution located in Bemidji, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Bemidji State University also took the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $15,868 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Bemidji State University.

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

#12

St Catherine University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#18 in overall quality

St Catherine University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid list, St. Kate’s has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Kate’s is $19,078 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at St Catherine University

#13

Augsburg University

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

Augsburg University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Augsburg also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Augsburg University is $24,653 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid.

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

#14

Hamline University

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#16 in overall quality

Hamline University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid ranking. This small school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Hamline also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $20,866 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Hamline.

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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hamline

#15

University of Northwestern - St Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#8 in overall quality

University of Northwestern - St Paul landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Paul, Minnesota 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 20 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $21,871 for Minnesota Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend University of Northwestern - St Paul.

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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwestern

#16

Concordia College at Moorhead

Moorhead, Minnesota
#9 in overall quality

Concordia College at Moorhead came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Moorhead, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Concordia College Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $23,029 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Concordia College Moorhead.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

#17

St Olaf College

Northfield, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

St Olaf College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Northfield, Minnesota, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

St. Olaf also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St Olaf College is $23,543 for minnesota 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 91%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full St. Olaf Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#18

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#6 in overall quality

Bethel University Minnesota came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Minnesota For Those Getting Aid ranking. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Bethel University Minnesota not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $25,191 for minnesota bachelor’s degree parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Bethel University Minnesota.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bethel University Minnesota

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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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