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

23 Ranked Colleges
1,345 Degrees Awarded
$31,153 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Iowa” 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 Iowa, there were 1,493 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,634 and $25,812 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,345 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,980 and $30,839 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa” ranking analyzed 23 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.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 Iowa” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for iowa bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Top 23 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Iowa

1
William Penn University crest
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, Iowa

Out of the 23 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, William Penn University landed the #1 spot on the list. William Penn University is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

2
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grand View University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa. This small school is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and it awarded 50 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

3
Cornell College crest
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, Iowa

Out of the 23 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Cornell College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 26 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students 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 Cornell College

4
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

Out of the 23 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Loras College landed the #4 spot on the list. Loras is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dubuque, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

5
St. Ambrose University crest
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, Iowa

Out of the 23 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Ambrose University landed the #5 spot on the list. Davenport, 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 69 students 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Saint Ambrose University

6
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 608 students in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Iowa Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

7
UD crest
University of Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa

University of Dubuque landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa ranking. University of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa. It awarded 28 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

7
Iowa Wesleyan crest
Iowa Wesleyan University
Mount Pleasant, Iowa

Iowa Wesleyan University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. Iowa Wesleyan is located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full Iowa Wesleyan University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

9
Coe crest
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa

With a ranking of #9, Coe College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. Coe College is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Coe College

10
Clarke crest
Clarke University
Dubuque, Iowa

Clarke University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa ranking. Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa. It awarded 10 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

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

11
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

With a ranking of #11, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 115 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

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

12
Simpson College crest
Simpson College
Indianola, Iowa

Simpson College landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa ranking. Simpson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Indianola, Iowa. It awarded 13 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

13

Graceland University - Lamoni did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa ranking, coming in at #13. Graceland University - Lamoni is a small school located in Lamoni, Iowa that handed out 17 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Graceland Lamoni

14

With a ranking of #14, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. Iowa State is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 242 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

15
NWC crest
Northwestern College
Orange City, Iowa

With a ranking of #15, Northwestern College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. This small school is located in Orange City, Iowa, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

16
BVU crest
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa ranking. Buena Vista University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Storm Lake, Iowa. It awarded 12 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

Full Buena Vista University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

17
Dordt crest
Dordt University
Sioux Center, Iowa

Dordt University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa ranking. Dordt is located in Sioux Center, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

18
Luther crest
Luther College
Decorah, Iowa

Luther College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa ranking. Luther is located in Decorah, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

19
Briar Cliff crest
Briar Cliff University
Sioux City, Iowa

Briar Cliff University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa ranking. Briar Cliff is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux City, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

20
Wartburg crest
Wartburg College
Waverly, Iowa

With a ranking of #20, Wartburg College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. Wartburg is located in Waverly, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Wartburg Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

21
UIU crest
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, Iowa

With a ranking of #21, Upper Iowa University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. Fayette, 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 12 students in 2020-2021.

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

22
Drake crest
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

Drake University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. Drake University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

23
Waldorf crest
Waldorf University
Forest City, Iowa

With a ranking of #23, Waldorf University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Iowa list. Waldorf University is located in Forest City, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

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