by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region” ranking, we looked at 168 colleges that offer a degree 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.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools 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.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 colleges and universities below are the best for plains states region parks & rec students.
Out of the 168 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region 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 58 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full William Penn University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 168 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ottawa University - Ottawa landed the #2 spot on the list. Ottawa is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ottawa, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 ’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.
Full Ottawa University - Ottawa Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Logan University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Logan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chesterfield, Missouri. It awarded 95 ’s parks and rec degrees 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%.
Full Logan University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bethany College Kansas. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. Bethany College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lindsborg, Kansas. It awarded 29 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Bethany College Kansas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri Valley College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region. This small school is located in Marshall, Missouri, and it awarded 34 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Missouri Valley College
With a ranking of #6, Kansas Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Salina, Kansas, and it awarded 23 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Kansas Wesleyan University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Tabor College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Hillsboro, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full Tabor Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #8, Sterling College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Sterling College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sterling, Kansas. It awarded 15 ’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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Sterling College
Westminster College Missouri did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. This small school is located in Fulton, Missouri, and it awarded 18 ’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.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Westminster Fulton
McPherson College ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. McPherson College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in McPherson, Kansas. It awarded 17 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at McPherson College
Grand View University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Grand View University is located in Des Moines, Iowa and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 54 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Grand View University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Concordia University, Saint Paul ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 198 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Saint Paul
With a ranking of #13, Nebraska Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Lincoln, Nebraska, and it awarded 43 ’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%.
Full Nebraska Wesleyan University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northern State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, this small public school awarded 33 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NSU
Missouri Western State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and it awarded 72 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Missouri Western Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Cornell College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Cornell College is a small school located in Mount Vernon, Iowa that handed out 26 ’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 Cornell College
Mount Marty University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Yankton, South Dakota, and it awarded 18 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mount Marty
Loras College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Dubuque, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 32 degrees to qualified ’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 College
Hastings College ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Hastings College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hastings, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hastings College
Saint Ambrose University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. St. Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Davenport, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 69 ’s 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 Saint Ambrose University
Culver - Stockton College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #21. Culver - Stockton is located in Canton, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Culver - Stockton Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #22, Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is located in Fayette, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at CMU CLAS
With a ranking of #23, Southwest Minnesota State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Southwest Minnesota State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Marshall, Minnesota. It awarded 48 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southwest Minnesota State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Sioux Falls came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region ranking. University of Sioux Falls is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 38 ’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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Sioux Falls
With a ranking of #25, Augustana University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Plains States Region list. Augustana University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Augustana Sioux Falls
Not only did these schools make the top 26 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
