2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region
90
Ranked Colleges
10,384
Degrees Awarded
$16,500
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 90 colleges that offered 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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 in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Chicago. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region. This medium-sized school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 429 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Concordia University, Chicago also took the #10 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,051 for great lakes region parks & rec students per year to attend Concordia University, Chicago.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Michigan University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 292 students in 2020-2021.
Central Michigan also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan University is $16,007 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Michigan
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region. La Crosse, Wisconsin is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 252 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students list, UW - La Crosse has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,654 for great lakes region parks & rec students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - La Crosse
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Illinois University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 118 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for WIU is $15,305 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
Full Western Illinois University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 90 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grace College and Theological Seminary landed the #5 spot on the list. Grace College and Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona Lake, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Grace College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Grace College and Theological Seminary is $20,060 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grace College and Theological Seminary
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 317 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus is $23,831 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
Full OHIO Athens Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Grand Valley State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Grand Valley State University is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 290 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for GVSU is $17,356 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at GVSU
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and it awarded 137 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
WMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for WMU is $20,371 for great lakes region parks & rec students.
Full WMU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 130 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $14,462 for great lakes region parks & rec students.
Full SIUE Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #10, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire is a public institution located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 53 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,051 for great lakes region parks & rec students per year to attend UW - Eau Claire.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
Ashland University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ashland is a small school located in Ashland, Ohio that handed out 17 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $20,974 for great lakes region parks & rec students per year to attend Ashland.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ashland
Illinois State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois State is located in Normal, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 223 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $20,830 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State
Eastern Illinois University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 107 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend EIU is $13,098 for great lakes region parks & rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at EIU
Northern Illinois University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 98 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend NIU is $13,956 for great lakes region parks & rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northern Illinois University
Eastern Michigan University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Eastern Michigan is a fairly large school located in Ypsilanti, Michigan that handed out 114 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $15,127 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend Eastern Michigan University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Eastern Michigan
Youngstown State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $12,225 for great lakes region parks & rec students per year to attend Youngstown State University.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Youngstown State University
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UW - River Falls is a public institution located in River Falls, Wisconsin. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $13,844 for great lakes region parks & rec students per year to attend UW - River Falls.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 136 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $16,285 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #19. This medium-sized school is located in Platteville, Wisconsin, and it awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,565 for great lakes region parks & rec students per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville.
Full University of Wisconsin - Platteville Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 87 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $17,486 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Kent, Ohio, this large public school handed out 129 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Kent State is $19,117 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
Full Kent State University at Kent Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Purdue University - Main Campus is located in West Lafayette, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 131 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region parks & rec students list, Purdue has also earned the #12 rank 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.
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.
Full Purdue Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. UW - Stevens Point is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 42 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend UW - Stevens Point is $13,346 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Stevens Point
Ball State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ball State University is a large school located in Muncie, Indiana that handed out 152 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,765 for Great Lakes Region Parks & Rec students per year to attend Ball State University.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ball State
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Bowling Green, Ohio that handed out 202 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $18,558 for great lakes region parks & rec students per year to attend Bowling Green State University - Main Campus.
Full Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
