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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

123 Ranked Colleges
2,310 Degrees Awarded
$24,600 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking.

In 2021-2022, 2,818 people earned their degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, making the major the 218th most popular in the United States.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,310 parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,724 and $23,030 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking looked at 123 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation & leisure studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in parks, recreation & leisure studies.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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More Parks & Rec Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

1
VWU crest
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Wesleyan University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Virginia Wesleyan University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

2
Ferrum College crest
Ferrum College
Ferrum, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferrum College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This small school is located in Ferrum, Virginia, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Ferrum College

3
Western crest
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Colorado University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This small school is located in Gunnison, Colorado, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Western Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

4
Alaska Pacific crest
Alaska Pacific University
Anchorage, Alaska

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Alaska Pacific University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Alaska Pacific University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Anchorage, Alaska. It awarded 10 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Alaska Pacific

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Kutztown University is a medium-sized public school situated in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It awarded 60 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

6

Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Paul Smith’s College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Paul Smiths, New York. It awarded 12 bachelors’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%.

Full Paul Smith’s College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

7
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherd University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #7. Shepherdstown, West Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 36 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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Shepherd University

8

With a ranking of #8, University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school awarded 53 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Nebraska at Kearney

9
Gallaudet crest
Gallaudet University
Washington, District of Columbia

Gallaudet University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Gallaudet University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Washington, District of Columbia. It awarded 0 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Gallaudet University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

10
Houghton crest
Houghton College
Houghton, New York

Houghton College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Houghton College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Houghton, New York. It awarded 15 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Houghton College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

11
Mars Hill crest
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, North Carolina

Mars Hill University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Mars Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 10 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Mars Hill

12
GSU crest
Grambling State University
Grambling, Louisiana

Grambling State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Grambling, Louisiana, and it awarded 37 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

Full GSU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

13
Shaw University crest
Shaw University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Shaw University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Shaw University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Shaw University

14
Central State University crest
Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio

Central State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Wilberforce, Ohio, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 Central State University

15
Gordon College crest
Gordon College
Wenham, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #15, Gordon College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Wenham, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Gordon College

16
Newberry College crest
Newberry College
Newberry, South Carolina

Newberry College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Newberry, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Newberry College

17

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #17. Chico, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 101 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 California State University - Chico

18

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 95 students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

19
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

With a ranking of #19, Radford University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Radford is a medium-sized public school situated in Radford, Virginia. It awarded 41 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Radford

20
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 35 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

21

University of Northern Iowa did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #21. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 27 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Northern Iowa

22
Jacksonville State University crest
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Jacksonville State University is a public institution located in Jacksonville, Alabama. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 23 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Jacksonville State University

23
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #23. This medium-sized school is located in Arcata, California, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 Humboldt State University

24

Southern Oregon University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized public school situated in Ashland, Oregon. It awarded 12 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southern Oregon University

25

York College of Pennsylvania landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. York College of Pennsylvania is located in York, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at York College of Pennsylvania

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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