2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region
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.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 171 schools in the Plains States Region to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Plains States Region
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges.
Top 25 Most Popular Plains States Region Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness
Our analysis found University of Iowa to be the most popular school for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who want to pursue a degree in the Plains States Region . Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Iowa take out is $23,417. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $409.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Iowa
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Iowa State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Parks & Rec majors at Iowa State take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $215.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Iowa State University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Kansas. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region list. KU is a very large public school located in the small city of Lawrence.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at KU accumulate an average of around $21,500 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $454, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Concordia University, Saint Paul. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region list. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Paul.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Concordia University, Saint Paul accumulate an average of around $29,933 in student debt.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Saint Paul Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public school with a large student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Minnesota State Mankato accumulate an average of around $26,867 in student debt.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Minnesota State University - Mankato Report
Missouri State University - Springfield did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the midsize city of Springfield, Missouri State is a public college with a very large student population.
On average, parks and rec graduates from Missouri State take out $23,293 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 $107.
University of Northern Iowa ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region list. UNI is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Cedar Falls.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from UNI carry an average student debt load of $23,610. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $185, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Northern Iowa
Lindenwood University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a private not-for-profit school with a moderately-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Lindenwood University take out is $28,875. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $210.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lindenwood University Report
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #9 on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis.
Parks & Rec majors at UMN Twin Cities take out an average of $23,038 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $340, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Saint Louis University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. SLU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Louis.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at SLU accumulate an average of around $26,547 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $502, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Saint Louis University
University of Missouri - Columbia ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the medium-sized city of Columbia, Mizzou is a public college with a fairly large student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Mizzou accumulate an average of around $25,000 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $277.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Missouri - Columbia Report
University of Central Missouri did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #12 on the list. UCM is a fairly large public school located in the town of Warrensburg.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at UCM accumulate an average of around $25,041 in student debt.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Central Missouri Report
Winona State University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the distant town of Winona, Winona State is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Winona State accumulate an average of around $25,724 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $259.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Winona State University
With a ranking of #14, Logan University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Logan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Chesterfield.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Logan University Report
Truman State University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in the town of Kirksville, Truman State is a public school with a small student population.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Truman State carry an average student debt load of $26,000.
University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Omaha, UNOMAHA is a public college with a large student population.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from UNOMAHA carry an average student debt load of $22,287.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Nebraska at Omaha
University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. UNK is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Kearney.
Parks & Rec majors at UNK take out an average of $18,047 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $133.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Nebraska at Kearney Report
North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. North Dakota State University is a large public school located in the medium-sized city of Fargo.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at North Dakota State University take out is $23,990.
University of South Dakota came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. USD is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Vermillion.
On average, parks and rec graduates from USD take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of South Dakota Report
Wichita State University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region list. WSU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Wichita.
On average, parks and rec graduates from WSU take out $23,687 in student loans while working on their degree.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Wichita State University
With a ranking of #21, University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the city of Duluth, UMN Duluth is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from UMN Duluth carry an average student debt load of $25,413. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $269.
Missouri Western State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western is a public college with a small student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Missouri Western accumulate an average of around $26,214 in student debt.
Saint Ambrose University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. St. Ambrose University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Davenport.
Parks & Rec majors at St. Ambrose University take out an average of $26,373 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $282.
William Penn University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. William Penn University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the remote town of Oskaloosa.
Parks & Rec majors at William Penn University take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $187.
University of Mary came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UMary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at UMary accumulate an average of around $26,987 in student debt.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Mary Report
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the Plains States Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Grand View University | Des Moines, IA |
| 27 | Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville, MO |
| 28 | Missouri Baptist University | Saint Louis, MO |
| 28 | South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD |
| 30 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | Saint Louis, MO |
| 30 | Augustana University | Sioux Falls, SD |
| 32 | Southwest Minnesota State University | Marshall, MN |
| 32 | Bemidji State University | Bemidji, MN |
| 34 | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, MO |
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 Plains States region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Kansas | 710 |
| Minnesota | 1,139 |
| Iowa | 1,491 |
| South Dakota | 342 |
| Missouri | 1,342 |
| Nebraska | 429 |
| North Dakota | 266 |
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 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| 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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