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2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges for Veterans in Kansas

10 Ranked Colleges
714 Degrees Awarded
$28,300 Avg Cost*
Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec

Veterans have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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 Kansas, there were 714 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,485 and $25,814 respectively.

This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec” ranking looked at 10 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs as well as strong veteran support.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran population. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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More Parks & Rec Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec”.

Top 10 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges for Veterans in Kansas

1
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Kansas. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec list. Lawrence, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 214 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at KU, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 26,744 students enrolled at University of Kansas, 70 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 40 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $10,917. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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%.

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2
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Out of the 10 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec that were part of this year’s ranking, Kansas State University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school awarded 22 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, K -State supports 20,854 students, and 1,099 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 647 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,562. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Kansas State University Veteran Student Life Report

3

Out of the 10 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec that were part of this year’s ranking, Wichita State University landed the #3 spot on the list. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 76 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

WSU also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Of the 14,999 students enrolled at WSU, 577 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 385 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,488. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. WSU offers credit for military training for eligible students.

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4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Pittsburg State University. The school came in at #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec. Pittsburg State University is a public institution located in Pittsburg, Kansas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Pitt State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 6,398 students enrolled at Pittsburg State University, 204 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 123 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,125. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

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5
Sterling College crest
Sterling College
Sterling, Kansas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Sterling College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec list. This small school is located in Sterling, Kansas, and it awarded 15 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Sterling College also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 21 of the 678 students enrolled at Sterling College were GI Bill® students, of which 6 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,050. To help with additional expenses, 3 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

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 Veteran Student Life Report

6

MidAmerica Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec ranking, coming in at #6. MidAmerica Nazarene University is a small school located in Olathe, Kansas that handed out 21 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at MNU, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 1,636 students enrolled at MNU, 72 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 45 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $10,937. To help with additional expenses, 4 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

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 veteran student life at MNU]](/colleges/midamerica-nazarene-university/student-life/veterans/)

7

Central Christian College of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec ranking, coming in at #7. Located in McPherson, Kansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Central Christian College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, Central Christian College of Kansas supports 629 students, and 49 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 33 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $7,232. On top of their other funding sources, 2 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Central Christian College of Kansas]](/colleges/central-christian-college-of-kansas/student-life/veterans/)

8
Tabor crest
Tabor College
Hillsboro, Kansas

Tabor College did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec ranking, coming in at #8. Tabor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Tabor also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Our most recent data shows that 11 of the 642 students enrolled at Tabor College were GI Bill® students, of which 5 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $13,128. In addition to receiving other benefits, 3 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Tabor]](/colleges/tabor-college/student-life/veterans/)

9
McPherson College crest
McPherson College
McPherson, Kansas

McPherson College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec ranking. McPherson College is a small school located in McPherson, Kansas that handed out 17 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at McPherson College, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 868 students enrolled at McPherson College, 28 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 15 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $12,119. During this same period, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full McPherson College Veteran Student Life Report

10
Bethany College Kansas crest
Bethany College Kansas
Lindsborg, Kansas

Bethany College Kansas landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in Kansas for Parks & Rec ranking. Bethany College Kansas is a small school located in Lindsborg, Kansas that handed out 29 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Bethany College Kansas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, Bethany College Kansas supports 790 students, and 24 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 5 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $33,854. In addition to receiving other benefits, 5 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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