College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Plains States Region

132 Ranked Colleges
4,883 Degrees Awarded
$30,422 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking.

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 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 bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 4,883 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,046 and $29,021 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking looked at 132 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.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Parks & Rec Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region

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

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ottawa University - Ottawa. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ottawa, Kansas. It awarded 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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 Ottawa University - Ottawa

2
Bethany College Kansas crest
Bethany College Kansas
Lindsborg, Kansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bethany College Kansas. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Located in Lindsborg, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 29 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bethany College Kansas

3
William Penn University crest
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend William Penn University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Oskaloosa, Iowa 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 40 students in 2020-2021.

Full William Penn University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

4
Missouri Valley College crest
Missouri Valley College
Marshall, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri Valley College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Missouri Valley College is a small school located in Marshall, Missouri that handed out 34 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kansas Wesleyan University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Kansas Wesleyan University is a small school located in Salina, Kansas that handed out 23 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

6
Tabor crest
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas

Tabor College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #6. Tabor College is located in Hillsboro, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

7
Sterling College crest
Sterling College
Sterling, Kansas

Sterling College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Sterling College is a small school located in Sterling, Kansas that handed out 15 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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.

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

8

Westminster College Missouri ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Fulton, Missouri 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 18 students 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.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Westminster Fulton

9
McPherson College crest
McPherson College
McPherson, Kansas

McPherson College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. McPherson College is located in McPherson, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at McPherson College

10
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa

Grand View University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Grand View University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Des Moines, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

11

Nebraska Wesleyan University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 43 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

12
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

Cornell College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Cornell College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mount Vernon, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Cornell College

13
Mount Marty crest
Mount Marty University
Yankton, South Dakota

Mount Marty University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Yankton, South Dakota, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mount Marty

14
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Located in Dubuque, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 32 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Loras

15
Hastings crest
Hastings College
Hastings, Nebraska

Hastings College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #15. Hastings, Nebraska 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 23 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

16
St. Ambrose University crest
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa

With a ranking of #16, Saint Ambrose University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Davenport, Iowa, and it awarded 69 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 St. Ambrose University

17
Culver - Stockton crest
Culver - Stockton College
Canton, Missouri

Culver - Stockton College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Canton, Missouri, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Culver - Stockton Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

18

Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. CMU CLAS is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fayette, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

19

Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Southwest Minnesota State University is located in Marshall, Minnesota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southwest Minnesota State University

20
University of Sioux Falls crest
University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

With a ranking of #20, University of Sioux Falls did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Sioux Falls, South Dakota 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 38 students 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%.

Full University of Sioux Falls Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

21
Missouri Western crest
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, Missouri

Missouri Western State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and it awarded 61 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Missouri Western State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

22

Central Christian College of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #22. Located in McPherson, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Full Central Christian College of Kansas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

23
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Truman State University is located in Kirksville, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 92 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Truman State

24
BHSU crest
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, South Dakota

Black Hills State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Black Hills State University is a small public school situated in Spearfish, South Dakota. It awarded 39 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Black Hills State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

25

Hannibal - LaGrange University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Hannibal, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 13 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at HLGU

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options