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2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in Illinois

[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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in Illinois

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

1

Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL

$14,572 In-State Tuition & Fees

$29,000 Avg Student Debt

$54,163 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Western Illinois University, our #1 best value for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management in Illinois. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates make about $34,131. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.

2

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

$14,410 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,000 Avg Student Debt

$62,117 Median Earnings (10yr)

Illinois State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, landing the #2 spot this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $39,104. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

View All Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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 · 9 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.