2026 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/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong parks, recreation & leisure facilities management education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools.
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2026 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
Western Illinois University earned the #1 spot for value among parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools in the Great Lakes Region. 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. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $34,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management will find it at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse, which ranked #2. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,070, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $22,005 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $34,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $39,104. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Michigan State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $24,939 to complete the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program here. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $35,343. Set against $24,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
