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

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

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 Kansas” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas” ranking, we looked at 13 colleges that offer 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

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”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons 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 for a Bachelor’s in Kansas

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

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

#1

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Kansas. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas. 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.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. It costs about $18,918 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend University of Kansas.

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 KU

#2

Emporia State University

Emporia, Kansas
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Emporia State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas. ESU is a medium-sized school located in Emporia, Kansas that handed out 7 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at ESU, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. It costs about $14,822 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend ESU.

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

#3

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas that were part of this year’s ranking, Kansas State University landed the #3 spot on the list. K -State is a public institution located in Manhattan, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at K -State, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend K -State is $18,285 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

#4

Pittsburg State University

Pittsburg, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pittsburg State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas. Pittsburg State University is located in Pittsburg, Kansas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 54 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Pitt State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list. The yearly cost to attend Pittsburg State University is $14,436 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Full Pitt State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#5

Washburn University

Topeka, Kansas
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washburn University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas. Topeka, Kansas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 37 students in 2019-2020.

Washburn University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #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.

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

#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 list. Wichita State University is a fairly large public school situated in Wichita, Kansas. It awarded 52 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees 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.

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

#7

Sterling College

Sterling, Kansas
#7 in overall quality

Sterling College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas ranking. Located in Sterling, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

Sterling College also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Sterling College is $20,090 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

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.

Full Sterling College 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 list. Located in Baldwin City, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 27 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Baker, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Baker University is $22,879 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

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

#9

Benedictine College

Atchison, Kansas
#2 in overall quality

Benedictine College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas ranking, coming in at #9. Benedictine College is located in Atchison, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Benedictine College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list. The estimated yearly cost for Benedictine College is $23,011 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

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

#13 in overall quality

Central Christian College of Kansas did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas ranking, coming in at #10. Central Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in McPherson, Kansas. It awarded 17 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Central Christian College also took the #13 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Christian College of Kansas is $14,386 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students.

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

#11 in overall quality

MidAmerica Nazarene University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas list. MidAmerica Nazarene University is located in Olathe, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

MNU also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $26,222 for kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students per year to attend MidAmerica Nazarene University.

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

#12

Bethany College Kansas

Lindsborg, Kansas
#12 in overall quality

Bethany College Kansas came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas ranking. Bethany College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lindsborg, Kansas. It awarded 19 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.

Bethany College Kansas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” list. It costs about $23,343 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Bethany College Kansas.

Full Bethany College Kansas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

#13

Tabor College

Hillsboro, Kansas
#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Tabor College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Bachelor’s in Kansas list. Hillsboro, 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 27 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our kansas bachelor’s degree parks & rec students list, Tabor has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Kansas” ranking. It costs about $24,221 for Kansas Bachelor’s Degree Parks & Rec students per year to attend Tabor College.

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

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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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