by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. 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 Plains States region, there were 5,811 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,332 and $25,331 respectively. At the associate degree level specifically, there were 119 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,723 and $22,140 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 38 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States 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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vermilion Community College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Ely, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Vermilion Community College
Out of the 38 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Cankdeska Cikana Community College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Fort Totten, North Dakota, this small public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at CCCC
Out of the 38 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, United Tribes Technical College landed the #3 spot on the list. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full United Tribes Technical College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 38 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Haskell Indian Nations University landed the #4 spot on the list. Haskell is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Haskell Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 38 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Alexandria Technical & Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Alexandria, Minnesota, and it awarded 13 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Alexandria Technical & Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northeast Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Norfolk, Nebraska, and it awarded 16 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Northeast Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Lake Region State College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Lake Region State College is located in Devils Lake, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Lake Region State College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Dodge City Community College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Dodge City Community College is a public institution located in Dodge City, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Dodge City Community College
With a ranking of #9, Barton County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Great Bend, Kansas, this small public school handed out 10 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Barton Community College
Dakota County Technical College ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Dakota County Technical College is a small public school situated in Rosemount, Minnesota. It awarded 7 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at DCTC
Western Nebraska Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Western Nebraska Community College is located in Scottsbluff, Nebraska and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full WNCC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #12, Normandale Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Bloomington, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Normandale Community College
Anoka Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Anoka Technical College is a small school located in Anoka, Minnesota that handed out 5 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Anoka Technical College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Independence Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Independence Community College is a small public school situated in Independence, Kansas. It awarded 1 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Independence Community College
Minnesota State College Southeast did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Minnesota State College Southeast is a small public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 2 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Inver Hills Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, this small public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at IHCC
With a ranking of #17, Butler Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Butler CC is a medium-sized school located in El Dorado, Kansas that handed out 5 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Butler CC
Kirkwood Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #18. Kirkwood Community College is a public institution located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Kirkwood Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
North Hennepin Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. North Hennepin Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. It awarded 3 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Rochester Community and Technical College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Rochester Community and Technical College is a public institution located in Rochester, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Waldorf University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Forest City, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Waldorf
Anoka-Ramsey Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Coon Rapids, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Anoka-Ramsey Community College
Central Lakes College - Brainerd ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Brainerd, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
Full Central Lakes College - Brainerd Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Iowa Central Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, this medium-sized public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Iowa Central Community College
Minnesota State Community and Technical College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It awarded 1 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
