2023 Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region
213
Ranked Colleges
10,384
Degrees Awarded
$28,600
Avg Cost*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region” 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 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.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 213 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs in the United States.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
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 “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region” list to help you make the college 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. 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.
Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region parks & rec students.
Top 25 Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Indiana University - Bloomington. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 643 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
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. This large school is located in East Lansing, Michigan, and it awarded 442 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Chicago. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region. Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in River Forest, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 429 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, 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, Chicago
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Miami University - Oxford. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 348 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national 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 Miami University - Oxford Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 326 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at U-M
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIUC is a large school located in Champaign, Illinois that handed out 317 ’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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UIUC
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #7 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. OHIO Athens is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 317 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full OHIO Athens Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 292 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Michigan University
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 290 ’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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grand Valley State University
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 252 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 248 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio State
With a ranking of #12, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 223 ’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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State University
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. BGSU is a public institution located in Bowling Green, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 202 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 155 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Illinois at Chicago
Ball State University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 152 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ball State University
Indiana State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #16. Indiana State is a public institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 145 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Indiana State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 148 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Madison
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 142 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Indianapolis landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Indianapolis, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 137 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Indianapolis
With a ranking of #19, Western Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. WMU is a fairly large public school situated in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It awarded 137 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at WMU
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 136 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SIUC
Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This large school is located in West Lafayette, Indiana, and it awarded 131 ’s parks and rec 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Purdue
With a ranking of #23, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 130 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Kent State University at Kent did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #24. Kent State is located in Kent, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 129 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Kent State University at Kent
With a ranking of #25, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Toledo, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 127 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Toledo
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