College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2025 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Iowa

2 Colleges in Iowa
91 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$34,246 Avg Early-Career Salary
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is about average in terms of popularity for degree programs. That is, it ranks #166 out of the 395 majors across the country that we analyze each year. So, you may have to do some digging around to find quality schools that offer the degree program. This list can help with that.

For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools in Iowa to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation & leisure studies students pursuing a degree. Combined, these schools handed out 91 degrees in parks, recreation & leisure studies to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings by Degree Level

Bachelor's Degrees in Parks & Rec
Master's Degrees in Parks & Rec
Doctor's Degrees in Parks & Rec

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 the Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Iowa. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we've developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Read more about College Factual's methodology.

Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in Iowa

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the parks & rec degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Iowa Schools in Parks & Rec

1
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
55 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
3.6% Growth in Graduates

It is hard to beat University of Iowa if you want to pursue a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Iowa is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Iowa City.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies degree recipients from University of Iowa get an earnings boost of about $2,857 over the average income of parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University of Iowa

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
36 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$37,233 Median Starting Salary

University of Northern Iowa is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the small city of Cedar Falls, UNI is a public university with a medium-sized student population.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies degree recipients from University of Northern Iowa earn a boost of approximately $2,987 above the average income of parks, recreation & leisure studies majors.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University of Northern Iowa

Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Colleges in the Plains States Region

Explore all the Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Minnesota 284 64
Missouri 283 175
Kansas 266 25
Nebraska 238 63
North Dakota 210 0
South Dakota 204 0

View All Rankings >

One of 4 majors within the Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies area of study, Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Parks & Rec Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 91

View All Parks & Rec Focus Areas >

Majors Similar to Parks & Rec

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Physical Education 1,464

View All Parks & Rec Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options