2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/recreation-administration/parks-recreation-facilities-management/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong parks, recreation & leisure facilities management education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools.
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2027 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools
For return on investment in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, no school beat Western Illinois University this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates is $29,000. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $34,131 early in their careers. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin La Crosse one of the best values for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. Students from in state pay about $10,070 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Students borrow a median of $22,005 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $34,490. That is a strong return on a $22,005 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management will find it at Illinois State University, which ranked #3. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $39,104 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management will find it at Michigan State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates is $24,939. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $35,343. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
