by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 218th most popular major in the country with 2,818 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.
At the associate degree level specifically, there were 159 parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $36,431 and $15,731 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking analyzed 36 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. That schools that top this list have a program in parks, recreation & leisure studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major”.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree parks & rec students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Garrett College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. This small school is located in McHenry, Maryland, and it awarded 5 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Garrett Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Butler County Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Butler, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks & rec degrees to 14 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at BC3
Out of the 36 schools in the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Kingsborough Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. Kingsborough Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Brooklyn, New York. It awarded 39 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Kingsborough Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Tahoe Community College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in South Lake Tahoe, California, this small public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified associates’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Sullivan County Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Sullivan County Community College is a small public school situated in Loch Sheldrake, New York. It awarded 7 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SUNY Sullivan
Tompkins Cortland Community College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Tompkins Cortland Community College is a small school located in Dryden, New York that handed out 2 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Tompkins Cortland
South Georgia Technical College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. South Georgia Technical College is a small school located in Americus, Georgia that handed out 12 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at South Georgia Technical College
Feather River Community College District came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Quincy, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks & rec degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Feather River Community College District Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Northwest College ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Northwest College is a public institution located in Powell, Wyoming. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Full Northwest College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is located in Perkinston, Mississippi and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 associates’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Mohawk Valley Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #11. MVCC is a public institution located in Utica, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Full Mohawk Valley Community College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Niagara County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #12. Niagara County Community College is a small public school situated in Sanborn, New York. It awarded 2 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Niagara County Community College
Central Wyoming College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Central Wyoming College is a public institution located in Riverton, Wyoming. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Red Rocks Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #14. Lakewood, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks & rec degrees to 6 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Red Rocks Community College
With a ranking of #15, Sierra College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Sierra College is a public institution located in Rocklin, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Sierra College
Allan Hancock College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Maria, California, and it awarded 14 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Allan Hancock College
East Mississippi Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. EMCC is a small public school situated in Scooba, Mississippi. It awarded 0 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at East Mississippi Community College
Fresno City College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #18. Fresno City College is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 2 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Fresno City College
American River College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #19. American River is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 1 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at American River
El Camino College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. El Camino College is located in Torrance, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 associates’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at El Camino College
With a ranking of #21, Central Georgia Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. CGTC is a medium-sized public school situated in Warner Robins, Georgia. It awarded 2 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Central Georgia Technical College
With a ranking of #22, University of Maine did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Orono, Maine, this fairly large public school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified associates’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Maine Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
With a ranking of #23, College of the Canyons did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This fairly large school is located in Santa Clarita, California, and it awarded 2 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full College of the Canyons Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Cuesta College landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Cuesta College is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Cuesta College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
With a ranking of #25, Washington County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Washington County Community College is a small school located in Calais, Maine that handed out 1 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Washington County Community College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Corning Community College ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Corning, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks & rec degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Corning Community College
Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Portales, New Mexico is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks & rec degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full ENMU - Main Campus Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Dakota College at Bottineau came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Dakota College at Bottineau is located in Bottineau, North Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 associates’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Dakota College at Bottineau
With a ranking of #25, Holmes Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This small school is located in Goodman, Mississippi, and it awarded 0 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Holmes Community College
Montgomery College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Montgomery College is a fairly large school located in Rockville, Maryland that handed out 0 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Montgomery College
College of the Desert ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. College of the Desert is located in Palm Desert, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 associates’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at College of the Desert
With a ranking of #25, Warren County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Warren County Community College is a small school located in Washington, New Jersey that handed out 0 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Warren County Community College
Palomar College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Palomar College is a public institution located in San Marcos, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Palomar College
Frederick Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Frederick Community College is a medium-sized school located in Frederick, Maryland that handed out 0 associates’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Frederick Community College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
With a ranking of #25, Eastern Maine Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Bangor, Maine, this small public school handed out 0 degrees to qualified associates’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Eastern Maine Community College
Prince George’s Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Prince George’s Community College is a public institution located in Largo, Maryland. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 associates’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Prince George’s Community College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Read more about our data sources and methodologies