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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Wisconsin

15 Ranked Colleges
909 Degrees Awarded
$19,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor's in Wisconsin

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin” ranking.

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 Wisconsin, there were 1,044 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 909 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin” ranking looked at 15 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.

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

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 Wisconsin”.

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. 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 Wisconsin

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Wisconsin

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 219 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - La Crosse, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. It costs about $14,580 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend UW - La Crosse.

The low student loan default rate of 1.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a fairly large public school situated in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It awarded 117 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Eau Claire also took the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UW - Eau Claire is $16,020 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

Full University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#3

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point, Wisconsin
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin list. Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school handed out 47 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

UW - Stevens Point did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $14,465 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Stevens Point

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 98 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,708 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin list. Kenosha, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 32 students in 2019-2020.

UW - Parkside also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Parkside is $11,327 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Parkside

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin list. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is a large public school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 67 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

UWM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. The yearly cost to attend UWM is $17,876 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UWM

#7

Marian University

Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin
#8 in overall quality

Marian University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin list. Located in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Marian also took the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. It costs about $19,928 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend Marian University.

Full Marian Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#8

Viterbo University

La Crosse, Wisconsin
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Viterbo University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin list. This small school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Viterbo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. It costs about $19,992 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Viterbo University.

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 Viterbo Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#9

Carroll University

Waukesha, Wisconsin
#4 in overall quality

Carroll University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin list. Carroll University is a small school located in Waukesha, Wisconsin that handed out 86 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Carroll U also took the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. It costs about $23,355 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Carroll University.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Carroll U

#10

Carthage College

Kenosha, Wisconsin
#5 in overall quality

Carthage College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin ranking. Carthage is located in Kenosha, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Carthage did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. It costs about $28,191 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Carthage College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#11

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#10 in overall quality

Wisconsin Lutheran College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin ranking. WLC is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 14 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WLC, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wisconsin Lutheran College is $20,899 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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

#12

Lakeland University

Plymouth, Wisconsin
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Lakeland University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin list. Plymouth, Wisconsin 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.

Lakeland also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list, coming in at #14. The yearly cost to attend Lakeland is $20,687 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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

#13

Concordia University, Wisconsin

Mequon, Wisconsin
#13 in overall quality

Concordia University, Wisconsin came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin ranking. Located in Mequon, Wisconsin, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Wisconsin also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Wisconsin is $23,855 for wisconsin bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

#14

Cardinal Stritch University

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
#15 in overall quality

Cardinal Stritch University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin ranking. Cardinal Stritch University is a small school located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that handed out 8 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Cardinal Stritch did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cardinal Stritch University is $18,156 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Cardinal Stritch Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#15

Ripon College

Ripon, Wisconsin
#12 in overall quality

Ripon College landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Wisconsin ranking. Located in Ripon, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Ripon did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Wisconsin” list. It costs about $20,147 for Wisconsin Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Ripon College.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

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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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