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2023 Most Popular Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region

165 Ranked Colleges
8,091 Degrees Awarded
$29,847 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor's

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Great Lakes region, there were 10,384 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,191 and $25,844 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 8,091 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,343 and $26,790 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s” ranking analyzed 165 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. To top this list, a school must have a successful parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s

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

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 576 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 91%. 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%.

Full IU Bloomington Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

2
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Michigan State University. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 411 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.

Full Michigan State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Miami University - Oxford. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 301 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Miami University - Oxford

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grand Valley State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Allendale, Michigan, this large public school handed out 286 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students 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%.

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

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 274 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

6
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking, coming in at #6. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 266 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Central Michigan

7

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 259 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

8

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large school located in La Crosse, Wisconsin that handed out 214 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - La Crosse

9

With a ranking of #9, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. Located in Columbus, Ohio, this large public school handed out 192 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Full Ohio State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

10

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Bowling Green, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 186 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus

11

Illinois State University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 156 bachelors’s parks and rec 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%.

Full Illinois State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

12

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 146 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%.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

13

Ohio University - Athens Campus came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 137 students in 2020-2021.

Full Ohio University - Athens Campus Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

14

With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. UW - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 136 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Madison

15
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, this large public school handed out 129 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

16
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. Ball State University is a large public school situated in Muncie, Indiana. It awarded 128 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%.

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

17
Indiana State crest
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana

Indiana State University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Located in Terre Haute, Indiana, this medium-sized public school awarded 120 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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

18
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Western Michigan University is a public institution located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 114 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

19

Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 112 bachelors’s 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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

20

Kent State University at Kent came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Kent State University at Kent is a large school located in Kent, Ohio that handed out 111 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

21
Carroll U crest
Carroll University
Waukesha, Wisconsin

Carroll University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. Carroll U is a small school located in Waukesha, Wisconsin that handed out 108 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.

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

22
UIndy crest
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana

With a ranking of #22, University of Indianapolis did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. UIndy is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 102 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

23

With a ranking of #23, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 98 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

24
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

With a ranking of #24, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s list. Ypsilanti, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 97 students in 2020-2021.

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

25

University of Toledo came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region for a Bachelor’s ranking. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 94 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

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