2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for You
Out of all the majors we analyze each year, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies was ranked #15 in the country. In fact 73,813 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This report analyzed 80 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which ones offered the best value programs for parks and rec students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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2023 Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for parks and rec majors pursuing a .
Top 15% Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
Our analysis found Ashland University to be the best value school for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who want to pursue a degree in the Great Lakes Region . Located in the fringe town of Ashland, Ashland is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Ashland undergraduate students pay an average of $23,090 in tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Ashland carry an average student debtload of $27,000.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ashland University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Grace College and Theological Seminary. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Grace College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Winona Lake.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Grace College are $25,044 per year. While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Grace College accumulate an average of around $25,750 in student debt.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Concordia University, Chicago. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Concordia University, Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at Concordia University, Chicago are $34,310 a year. While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Concordia University, Chicago accumulate an average of around $26,250 in student debt.
Out of the 80 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Youngstown State University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the small city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a public school with a large student population.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Youngstown State University are $9,732 per year. On average, parks and rec graduates from Youngstown State University take out $26,196 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $193, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Youngstown State University Report
The excellent programs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in the Great Lakes Region . SIUE is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville.
SIUE undergraduate students pay an average of $11,496 in tuition and fees each year. On average, parks and rec graduates from SIUE take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $277, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Central Michigan University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Central Michigan is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Central Michigan are $13,094 per year. The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Central Michigan take out is $29,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $259, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #7, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. UW - La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - La Crosse are $18,014 per year. After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from UW - La Crosse carry an average student debtload of $24,483. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $183.
In addition to its great value ranking, UW - La Crosse is in the top 5% of all schools on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region list.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Report
Northern Illinois University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. NIU is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of Dekalb.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at NIU are $14,738 per year. The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at NIU take out is $27,126. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $216, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #7, Western Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the remote town of Macomb, WIU is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
WIU undergraduate students pay an average of $13,297 in tuition and fees each year. Parks & Rec majors at WIU take out an average of $30,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $375.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Illinois University
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. UW - Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Stevens Point.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at UW - Stevens Point are $17,035 per year. The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at UW - Stevens Point take out is $26,000.
Illinois State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Illinois State are $24,172 per year. On average, parks and rec graduates from Illinois State take out $23,124 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $230.
Illinois State also claimed a spot on our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the town of Charleston, EIU is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate student at EIU are $14,551 a year. The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at EIU take out is $25,626. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $263, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great value schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness students in the Great Lakes Region seeking value that almost earned our Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, IN |
| 14 | Ohio University - Athens Campus | Athens, OH |
| 15 | University of Akron Main Campus | Akron, OH |
| 16 | Eastern Michigan University | Ypsilanti, MI |
Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges by State
Explore the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 1,818 |
| Michigan | 2,279 |
| Ohio | 2,647 |
| Illinois | 2,396 |
| Wisconsin | 1,001 |
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Rankings in the Great Lakes Region
Majors Related to Parks & Rec
Parks & Rec Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 67,146 |
| Recreation Administration | 3,122 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 3,106 |
| Outdoor Education | 265 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 174 |
Majors Similar to Parks & Rec
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting | 142,610 |
| Public Administration & Social Service | 98,583 |
| Legal Professions | 61,055 |
| Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 4,477 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 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 the rest 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).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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