2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
90
Ranked Colleges
10,384
Degrees Awarded
$15,700
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 90 colleges that offer 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.
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 in the Great Lakes Region 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region (With Aid)
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 Getting Aid. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 326 students in 2020-2021.
U-M also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $14,878 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at U-M
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 643 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,619 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend IU Bloomington.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad 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 IU Bloomington
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 317 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $14,321 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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 Getting Aid. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 148 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Madison is $17,234 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Madison
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 252 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
UW - La Crosse also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $14,654 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 131 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #12 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University - Main Campus is $13,377 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Purdue University - Main Campus
With a ranking of #7, Ball State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Ball State is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 152 ’s parks and rec degrees 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. It costs about $14,765 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Ball State University.
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
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, this large public school handed out 215 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $12,416 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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. It costs about $13,214 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend UIC.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UIC
Central Michigan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 292 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students with aid list, Central Michigan has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Central Michigan Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 248 ’s parks and rec 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 University - Main Campus is $16,845 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Michigan State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school awarded 442 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students with aid list, Michigan State has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,058 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend Michigan State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan State University
Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $17,051 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Concordia University, Chicago Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Grand Valley State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 290 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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 $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend GVSU.
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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grand Valley State University
Miami University - Oxford landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 348 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Oxford also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $24,756 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Miami University - Oxford Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, this fairly large public school awarded 53 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is $16,051 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 87 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for UWM is $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UWM
With a ranking of #18, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 107 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,098 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.
Full EIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Indiana State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Terre Haute, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 145 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Indiana State University is $14,270 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana State University
With a ranking of #20, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. WMU is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 137 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
WMU also took the #20 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Michigan University is $20,371 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Michigan University
With a ranking of #21, University of Southern Indiana did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. This medium-sized school is located in Evansville, Indiana, and it awarded 81 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend USI is $13,481 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
The low undergrad 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 USI
Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 118 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $15,305 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
Full Western Illinois University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #23, University of Wisconsin - River Falls did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid list. UW - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 22 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,844 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid per year to attend UW - River Falls.
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 University of Wisconsin - River Falls Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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.
The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $16,285 for great lakes region parks & rec students with aid.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Youngstown State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Youngstown, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $12,225 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students with aid.
Full Youngstown State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
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