2025 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region
11
Colleges in the Far Western US Region
696
Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$34,246
Avg Early-Career Salary
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies isn't the most popular major in the world, but it's not the least popular either. To be more precise it ranks #166 in popularity out of 395 majors in the country. So, it might take a little more work to find colleges and universities that offer the degree program.
College Factual reviewed 11 schools in the Far Western US Region to determine which ones were the best for degree seekers in the field of parks, recreation & leisure studies. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 696 degrees in parks, recreation & leisure studies annually.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies School
Your choice of parks, recreation & leisure studies school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Pick Your Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degree Level
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Far Western US Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.
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.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.
Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Far Western US Region
The schools below may not offer all types of parks & rec degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer.
10 Top Far Western US Region Schools in Parks & Rec
California State University - Long Beach is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #246 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means CSULB is a great university overall.
There were roughly 83 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make about $35,532 for their early career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California State University - Long Beach
Every student pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies needs to look into California State University - Chico. Chico State is a large public university located in the city of Chico. This university ranks 64th out of 161 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.
There were roughly 103 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Chico State in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the parks & rec program earn around $33,920 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California State University - Chico
It is hard to beat California State University - Sacramento if you wish to pursue a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Sac State is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Sacramento. This university ranks 40th out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were roughly 75 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Sac State in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the parks, recreation & leisure studies major at California State University - Sacramento get $6,092 more than the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California State University - Sacramento
San Francisco State University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the city of San Francisco, SFSU is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #225 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means SFSU is a great university overall.
There were approximately 28 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at SFSU in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, parks & rec degree recipients typically make about $28,427 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from San Francisco State University
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. A Best Colleges rank of #165 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a great university overall.
There were roughly 95 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo receive an earnings boost of about $4,911 over the typical earnings of parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Located in the city of Bellingham, WWU is a public university with a large student population. This university ranks 5th out of 50 colleges for overall quality in the state of Washington.
There were about 43 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at WWU in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks & rec degree recipients usually make around $27,558 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from Western Washington University
Located in the city of San Diego, SDSU is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #185 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means SDSU is a great university overall.
There were approximately 19 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at SDSU in the most recent year we have data available. After graduation, parks & rec degree recipients generally make about $33,692 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from San Diego State University
Located in the small city of Corvallis, Oregon State is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #238 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Oregon State is a great university overall.
There were roughly 21 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, parks & rec degree recipients typically make around $34,451 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from Oregon State University
Cal State East Bay is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Hayward. This university ranks 62nd out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were approximately 41 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Cal State East Bay in the most recent year we have data available. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies degree recipients from California State University - East Bay earn a boost of about $9,454 above the typical income of parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California State University - East Bay
Located in the large city of Fresno, Fresno State is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 81st out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were about 44 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Fresno State in the most recent data year. After graduation, parks & rec degree recipients generally earn around $32,697 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California State University - Fresno
