Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Illinois (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 23 Parks & Recreation programs in Illinois by the median earnings of Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. Elmhurst University leads the list at $66,244, just $753 ahead of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Across the 22 schools with a published figure, median earnings reach $50,719, with a spread of $32,251 from $66,244 to $33,993. For 2 of the listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list includes 8 public and 15 private nonprofit institutions. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign posts the highest six-year completion rate at 85%, while Trinity International University-Illinois carries the lowest average net price at $2,835.
University of Illinois Chicago ranks 17th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elmhurst University · Elmhurst, IL | $66,244 | $24,185 | $17,892 | 73.6% |
| Elmhurst University reports median earnings of $66,244 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing, the highest on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($66,244) | |||||
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL | $65,491 | $14,355 | $2,038 | 42.4% |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates 85% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $65,491 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (166 graduates), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies (91 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($67,782), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies ($61,313) | |||||
| 3 | North Central College · Naperville, IL | $60,018 | $21,044 | $12,507 | 77.3% |
| North Central College admits 77% of applicants and shows median earnings of $60,018 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (42 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($60,018) | |||||
| 4 | Illinois State University · Normal, IL | $58,211 | $19,398 | $11,568 | 88.2% |
| Illinois State University ranks 4th on this list and carries an average net price of $19,398. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management (81 graduates), Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (66 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($62,112), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management ($55,032) | |||||
| 5 | Benedictine University · Lisle, IL | $56,576 | $22,313 | $20,168 | 95.2% |
| Benedictine University posts a six-year completion rate of 50% alongside median earnings of $56,576 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (12 graduates) | |||||
| 6 | Concordia University-Chicago · River Forest, IL | $55,309 | $18,436 | $16,795 | 92.8% |
| Concordia University-Chicago reports an average net price of $18,436 and an admission rate of 93%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (93 graduates) | |||||
| 7 | University of Illinois Chicago · Chicago, IL | $55,247 | $10,974 | $7,529 | 77.4% |
| University of Illinois Chicago ranks 17th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports median earnings of $55,247 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (122 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($55,247) | |||||
| 8 | Northern Illinois University · Dekalb, IL | $54,207 | $13,391 | $10,126 | 69.8% |
| Northern Illinois University shows an average net price of $13,391 and a six-year completion rate of 49%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (106 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($54,207) | |||||
| 9 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale · Carbondale, IL | $53,283 | $13,297 | $9,415 | 86.9% |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale reports median earnings of $53,283 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing and admits 87% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (48 graduates), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies (11 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($55,039), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies ($45,623) | |||||
| 10 | McKendree University · Lebanon, IL | $52,784 | $24,717 | $21,928 | 71.7% |
| McKendree University ranks 10th on this list with an average net price of $24,717. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (30 graduates) | |||||
| 11 | Lewis University · Romeoville, IL | $51,021 | $17,028 | $10,382 | 71.3% |
| Lewis University posts a six-year completion rate of 67% and median earnings of $51,021 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (38 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($51,021) | |||||
| 12 | Eastern Illinois University · Charleston, IL | $50,417 | $12,786 | $9,828 | 65.4% |
| Eastern Illinois University reports an average net price of $12,786 and an admission rate of 65%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (70 graduates), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management (6 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($50,502) | |||||
| 13 | Monmouth College · Monmouth, IL | $50,093 | $17,133 | $12,483 | 90.9% |
| Monmouth College reports $50,093 in median earnings for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,133. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($50,093) | |||||
| 14 | Western Illinois University · Macomb, IL | $49,970 | $12,937 | $6,941 | 71.2% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 45%, Western Illinois University ranks 14th on this list and posts median earnings of $49,970 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management (30 graduates), Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (30 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($53,576), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management ($46,363) | |||||
| 15 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville · Edwardsville, IL | $49,837 | $14,889 | $8,483 | 97.5% |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits 98% of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 57%, while its Parks & Recreation graduates earn a median of $49,837 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (65 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($49,837) | |||||
| 16 | Aurora University · Aurora, IL | $49,471 | $18,838 | $14,525 | 80.9% |
| A private nonprofit university in Aurora, Aurora University reports median earnings of $49,471 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $18,838. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (67 graduates), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management (5 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Millikin University · Decatur, IL | $48,665 | $21,989 | $18,659 | 66.7% |
| Millikin University ranks 17th on this list, with an average net price of $21,989 and median earnings of $48,665 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($48,665) | |||||
| 18 | Olivet Nazarene University · Bourbonnais, IL | $47,435 | $20,729 | $17,232 | 55.9% |
| Graduates of the Parks & Recreation program at Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $47,435 four years after completing, and the university admits 56% of applicants. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (29 graduates) | |||||
| 19 | Trinity International University-Illinois · Deerfield, IL | $44,979 | $2,835 | $1,242 | 100.0% |
| Trinity International University-Illinois carries the lowest average net price on the page at $2,835, and its Parks & Recreation graduates earn a median of $44,979 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (10 graduates) | |||||
| 20 | North Park University · Chicago, IL | $44,098 | $16,948 | $14,845 | 68.5% |
| Located in Chicago, North Park University reports a six-year completion rate of 58% and median earnings of $44,098 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (34 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($44,098) | |||||
| 21 | Greenville University · Greenville, IL | No published median | $19,533 | $19,181 | 97.5% |
| Greenville University ranks 21st on this list, with an admission rate of 98% and an average net price of $19,533. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (15 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | University of St Francis · Joliet, IL | $35,060 | $13,006 | $8,547 | 65.3% |
| University of St Francis reports median earnings of $35,060 for its Parks & Recreation graduates two years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 67%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management (10 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | Quincy University · Quincy, IL | $33,993 | $20,359 | $16,502 | 50.9% |
| Ranking 23rd on this list, Quincy University shows median earnings of $33,993 for its Parks & Recreation graduates two years after completing and an admission rate of 51%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (24 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Parks & Recreation earnings cohort in Illinois appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled. For 2 of the 23 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 22 schools with a published figure. Elmhurst University leads University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign by a margin of $753, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom is $32,251.
Job market context in Illinois
In Illinois, Parks & Recreation graduates enter occupations such as Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, and Recreation Workers. The median annual wage across those occupations is $43,540, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $35,110. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 4.3% higher, with 31,510 projected openings a year, about 2,038 openings a year for every hundred graduates, or more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses graduate earnings four years after completing, not the occupation-wide wages reported here.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in Illinois
- Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Michigan
- Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Ohio
- Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Missouri
- Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Pennsylvania
- Parks & Recreation Colleges in Illinois for Social Mobility