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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois

37 Ranked Colleges
1,560 Degrees Awarded
$30,056 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois” 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, 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 Illinois, there were 2,442 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,264 and $24,988 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,560 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,117 and $25,584 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois” ranking analyzed 37 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. That schools that top this list have a program in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois” 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. 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.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois

1
Monmouth crest
Monmouth College
Monmouth, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Monmouth College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois. Monmouth is a private not-for-profit institution located in Monmouth, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

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

2
Eureka College crest
Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois

Out of the 37 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Eureka College landed the #2 spot on the list. Eureka College is a small school located in Eureka, Illinois that handed out 13 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Eureka College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

3
Greenville crest
Greenville University
Greenville, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Greenville University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Greenville University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Greenville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

4
Quincy U crest
Quincy University
Quincy, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Quincy University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Quincy University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Quincy, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

5
Lincoln College crest
Lincoln College
Lincoln, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lincoln College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois. This small school is located in Lincoln, Illinois, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Lincoln College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

6
Judson crest
Judson University
Elgin, Illinois

Judson University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. This small school is located in Elgin, Illinois, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

7
North Central crest
North Central College
Naperville, Illinois

North Central College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. North Central is a private not-for-profit institution located in Naperville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at North Central College

8
Trinity Christian crest
Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, Trinity Christian College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Trinity Christian is a private not-for-profit institution located in Palos Heights, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The impressive undergraduate 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Trinity Christian

9
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #9, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 92 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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%.

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

10
McKendree crest
McKendree University
Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. McKendree University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lebanon, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

11
Rockford crest
Rockford University
Rockford, Illinois

With a ranking of #11, Rockford University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Rockford University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rockford, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

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

11

Trinity International University - Illinois landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. TIU Illinois is located in Deerfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at TIU Illinois

13
EIU crest
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. EIU is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 79 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

14
Millikin crest
Millikin University
Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. Millikin is a small school located in Decatur, Illinois that handed out 18 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Millikin University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

15

Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #15. This medium-sized school is located in Macomb, Illinois, and it awarded 71 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

16
Aurora crest
Aurora University
Aurora, Illinois

With a ranking of #16, Aurora University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Aurora is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 69 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Aurora Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

17

With a ranking of #17, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 98 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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

18
Illinois State crest
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 156 students in 2020-2021.

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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State

19
Elmhurst crest
Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Elmhurst, Illinois 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 25 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Elmhurst Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

20
SXU crest
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois 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 22 students in 2020-2021.

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

21
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #21. Olivet Nazarene is a small school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 30 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

22
Illinois Wesleyan crest
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, Illinois

With a ranking of #22, Illinois Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bloomington, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois Wesleyan

23

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. This fairly large school is located in Edwardsville, Illinois, and it awarded 66 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

24
Illinois College crest
Illinois College
Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois ranking. Jacksonville, Illinois 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 6 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois College

25
North Park crest
North Park University
Chicago, Illinois

North Park University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Illinois list. North Park is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

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

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