by our College Data Analytics TeamWho doesn't look forward to long summer days or lazy weekends when you can relax in a park, participate in athletic competitions, or hang around by a pool? If you're interested in helping the public enjoy relaxing activities and lead healthy lifestyles, consider majoring in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies.
In this major you will take classes in administration, sociology, business, physical education, tourism and travel, therapeutic recreation, and sports science to learn how to develop recreation programs, customize activities for disabled children and adults, handle budgets, and oversee parks or recreation centers' operations. This degree allows students to work closely with the general public while overseeing employees in a relaxed environment.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies was the 166th most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 2,818 degrees in this year alone. Our 2025 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking analyzes 50 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for parks, recreation & leisure studies students. Explore this or one of our many other custom parks & rec rankings further below.
Students pursuing a degree in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies should have good communication and interpersonal skills. Professionals will often work with both the general public and employees, making the ability to communicate effectively and provide good customer service necessary. Students should also have good organization skills to coordinate activity schedules and ensure all daily operations are taken care of.
Depending on the job, professionals may be employed either seasonally or full time. Directors are often employed full time and work on administration tasks during the off-season, while workers, such as counselors, may only be seasonally employed. During busy times, both workers and upper level staff can expect to work long and sometimes irregular hours. Professionals typically split their time between the office and working with customers participating in programs or events.
Summer jobs as camp counselors or working at recreation centers will give students experience within the field. While this is not necessary, these jobs will give students the opportunity to decide if they enjoy working in the parks, recreation, and leisure industry.
While an associate's degree will allow graduates to work in the field, those who pursue a bachelor's degree will have better job opportunities and are more likely to advance to positions of management.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most parks & rec degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic parks, recreation & leisure studies program qualifications, to serve in some parks & rec careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Parks & Rec degree levels vary. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest parks & rec degree you can get. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A doctor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to parks & rec, with approximately 74.2% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for parks & rec workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 74.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.0% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 5.1% |
74.2% of parks & rec workers have at least a doctorate. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in parks, recreation & leisure studies careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the parks & rec career you are seeking.
Due to the increasing amount of park, recreational, and leisure activities available to the general public, there are many job opportunities available as well. Graduates have gone to work at recreation centers, national parks, cruise ships, summer camps, and other fields that support exercise and healthy living.
With the field growing at an average rate, graduates should be able to find jobs after graduation. Jobs may be more readily available in different areas of the country, giving those who are willing to move better opportunities.
Want a job when you graduate with your parks & rec degree? Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies careers are expected to grow 9.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to parks, recreation & leisure studies.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors | 22,600 | 9.7% |
Recently graduated parks, recreation & leisure studies students earned an average of $34,485 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $17,324 to as high as $47,726. As you might expect, salaries for parks & rec graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers parks & rec grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Professors | $72,190 |
With over 222 different parks & rec degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased parks & rec school rankings to help you with this.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is one of 4 different types of Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 2,818 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 66,552 |
| Recreation Administration | 2,826 |
| Outdoor Education | 313 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 232 |
