2024 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Minnesota
16
Ranked Colleges
1,184
Degrees Awarded
$19,500
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 Minnesota” 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, & 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 Minnesota, there were 1,184 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,166 and $25,590 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great parks, recreation, leisure, & 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, & fitness studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 Minnesota” list to help you make the college decision.
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 Minnesota
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota.
Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Minnesota
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Minnesota State University - Mankato landed the #1 spot on the list. Mankato, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 175 students in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” list. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $17,159 for minnesota parks & rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Minnesota State Mankato
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota list. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 124 students in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also took the #1 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $17,878 for minnesota parks & rec students per year to attend UMN Twin Cities.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Winona State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota. Winona, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 97 students in 2020-2021.
Winona State also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #3. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $17,634 for minnesota parks & rec students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Winona State
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Cloud State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Saint Cloud State University is located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our minnesota parks & rec students list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $14,581 for minnesota parks & rec students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Saint Cloud State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota. Moorhead, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MSU Moorhead, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $17,680 for Minnesota Parks & Rec students per year to attend Minnesota State University - Moorhead.
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 MSU Moorhead Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #6. This medium-sized school is located in Marshall, Minnesota, and it awarded 48 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Southwest Minnesota State University also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Southwest Minnesota State University is $13,872 for Minnesota Parks & Rec students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southwest Minnesota State University
With a ranking of #7, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota list. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 198 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
Concordia University, Saint Paul also took the #7 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Saint Paul is $15,880 for minnesota parks & rec students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Saint Paul
University of Minnesota - Crookston landed the #8 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in Crookston, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 17 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
UMN Crookston also took the #14 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $11,593 for Minnesota Parks & Rec students per year to attend UMN Crookston.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Minnesota - Crookston
University of Minnesota - Duluth ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota list. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized public school situated in Duluth, Minnesota. It awarded 74 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend UMN Duluth is $18,505 for minnesota parks & rec students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UMN Duluth
Crown College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota list. Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Crown also took the #9 spot in our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” ranking. It costs about $25,796 for minnesota parks & rec students per year to attend Crown.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Crown College
Concordia College at Moorhead did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #11. Concordia College at Moorhead is a private not-for-profit institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Concordia College Moorhead not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” list. It costs about $23,189 for minnesota parks & rec students per year to attend Concordia College at Moorhead.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia College Moorhead
With a ranking of #12, St Catherine University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota list. St. Kate’s is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
St. Kate’s also made our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend St. Kate’s is $17,814 for Minnesota Parks & Rec students.
The low undergrad 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full St Catherine University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Bethel University Minnesota did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota ranking, coming in at #13. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Bethel University Minnesota not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” list. The yearly cost to attend Bethel University Minnesota is $28,178 for minnesota parks & rec students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bethel University Minnesota
Augsburg University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota ranking. Minneapolis, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.
Augsburg not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” list. The estimated yearly cost for Augsburg University is $23,898 for Minnesota Parks & Rec students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Augsburg
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Parks & Rec Schools in Minnesota ranking. Located in Saint Peter, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 29 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2020-2021.
Gustavus Adolphus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota” list. The yearly cost to attend Gustavus Adolphus is $24,696 for Minnesota Parks & Rec students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Gustavus Adolphus
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