2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region
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 Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” 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 the Great Lakes region, there were 10,194 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,368 and $24,957 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,596 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 45 colleges that offer a degree 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.
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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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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 for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree parks & rec students.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 45 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 257 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Concordia University, Chicago Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grace College and Theological Seminary. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. Winona Lake, Indiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.
Grace College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grace College and Theological Seminary are $7,872, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grace College
Out of the 45 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Illinois State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Normal, Illinois, this large public school awarded 78 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Illinois State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wittenberg University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Wittenberg is a small school located in Springfield, Ohio that handed out 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Wittenberg also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #21. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wittenberg are $8,352, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Wittenberg University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Xavier University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Cincinnati, Ohio is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 28 students in 2019-2020.
Xavier also took the #11 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Xavier University are $12,076.
Full Xavier Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #6, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Macomb, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 74 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
WIU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at WIU
Valparaiso University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Valpo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valparaiso, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree parks & rec students list, Valpo has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Valpo are $12,220, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Valpo Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school situated in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It awarded 41 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
UW - La Crosse did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - La Crosse are $20,038.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - La Crosse
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large public school situated in Edwardsville, Illinois. It awarded 65 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Ohio University - Athens Campus is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 181 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
OHIO Athens did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at OHIO Athens are $17,712.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at OHIO Athens
With a ranking of #11, University of Dayton did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Dayton is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
UDayton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UDayton are $17,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Dayton
Ohio Dominican University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Ohio Dominican University is a small school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 9 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio Dominican University are $11,556, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio Dominican University
Central Michigan University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree parks & rec students list, Central Michigan has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Central Michigan University are $19,359, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Michigan
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #14. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full NIU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - River Falls is a medium-sized public school situated in River Falls, Wisconsin. It awarded 17 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - River Falls are $18,233, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Wisconsin - River Falls Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 44 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
UIUC also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 6 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison
With a ranking of #18, University of Wisconsin - Parkside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - Parkside is a small public school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 20 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Parkside are $18,768, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Parkside
Indiana State University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indiana State is located in Terre Haute, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana State are $15,346, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana State
Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #20. Michigan Tech is a public institution located in Houghton, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Michigan Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan Tech are $21,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan Tech
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #21. EIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 38 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Eastern Illinois University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Southern Indiana did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #22. USI is a fairly large school located in Evansville, Indiana that handed out 14 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern Indiana are $20,039, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Southern Indiana
Northern Michigan University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Marquette, Michigan, and it awarded 12 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Michigan University are $13,660, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northern Michigan University
With a ranking of #24, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2019-2020.
Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ball State are $26,204, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Ball State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Cardinal Stritch University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #25. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cardinal Stritch University are $11,760.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cardinal Stritch University
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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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