2023 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
159
Ranked Colleges
$24,500
Avg Cost*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 166th most popular major in the country with 2,818 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $31,801 and had an average of $21,309 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking, we looked at 159 colleges that offer a degree 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
Out of the 159 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Wesleyan University landed the #1 spot on the list. VWU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 0 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Virginia Wesleyan University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferrum College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Ferrum, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 6 students 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%.
Full Ferrum College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Out of the 159 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Colorado University landed the #3 spot on the list. Western is located in Gunnison, Colorado and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 20 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 Western Colorado University
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 Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Anchorage, Alaska is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 10 students 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Alaska Pacific
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Kutztown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 60 students 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 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Paul Smiths, New York, and it awarded 12 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Garrett College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. McHenry, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 6 students in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Garrett College
Shepherd University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Shepherd University is a small public school situated in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. It awarded 36 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Shepherd University
University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Kearney, Nebraska is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 53 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNK
Gallaudet University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #10. Gallaudet is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 ’s 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Gallaudet University
Houghton College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Houghton is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Houghton, New York. It awarded 15 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 Houghton College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Mars Hill University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This small school is located in Mars Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 10 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Mars Hill
Grambling State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. GSU is a public institution located in Grambling, Louisiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at GSU
Shaw University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools 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 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Shaw University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Central State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Central State University is located in Wilberforce, Ohio and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
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
Butler County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #16. Butler, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 14 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full BC3 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Gordon College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Wenham, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 Gordon College
Newberry College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This small school is located in Newberry, South Carolina, and it awarded 7 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Newberry College
California State University - Chico landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 103 ’s parks & rec degrees 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%.
Full California State University - Chico Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Southern Oregon University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized school located in Ashland, Oregon that handed out 23 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 Southern Oregon University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #21. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 95 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
University of Northern Iowa landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Cedar Falls, Iowa is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 36 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 University of Northern Iowa
Radford University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Radford, Virginia, and it awarded 41 ’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 full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Radford
Winona State University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Winona State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Winona, Minnesota. It awarded 35 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 Winona State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Jacksonville State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #25. Jacksonville, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 23 students 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%.
Full Jacksonville State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
