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2025 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools

193 Colleges in the United States
9,816 Master's Degrees
$45,410 Avg Early-Career Salary
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is about average in terms of popularity for master's degrees programs. That is, it ranks #16 out of the 37 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.

College Factual looked at 193 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 9,816 master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies during the <nil> academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for Your Master's Degree

Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools The parks & rec master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality parks & rec program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:

Overall Quality Is a Must

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.

Average Early-Career Salaries

Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.

Other Factors We Consider

In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:

Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students working on their master's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Parks & Rec Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the United States

Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students seeking a a master's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Master's in Parks & Rec

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
47 Annual Graduates

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. U-M is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
70 Annual Graduates

Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies needs to look into Texas A&M University - College Station. Located in the medium-sized city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Texas A&M University - College Station

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
190 Annual Graduates

University of Florida is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Florida

4
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
141 Annual Graduates

It is hard to beat Ohio University - Athens Campus if you want to pursue a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. OHIO Athens is a very large public university located in the distant town of Athens.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Ohio University - Athens Campus

5
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
19 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Wisconsin - Madison

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
51 Annual Graduates

Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

7
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
58 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Temple University

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
62 Annual Graduates

Ohio State is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Columbus.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Ohio State University - Main Campus

9
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
33 Annual Graduates

NC State is a very large public university located in the city of Raleigh.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from North Carolina State University

10
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
237 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Concordia University, Irvine

11
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
214 Annual Graduates

Concordia University, Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of River Forest.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Concordia University, Chicago

12
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
39 Annual Graduates

Iowa is a very large public university located in the small city of Iowa City.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Iowa

13
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
20 Annual Graduates

UNH is a fairly large public university located in the fringe town of Durham.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of New Hampshire - Main Campus

14
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
45 Annual Graduates

IU Bloomington is a very large public university located in the city of Bloomington.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Indiana University - Bloomington

15
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
34 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

16
Canisius crest
Canisius College
Buffalo, NY
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
61 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Buffalo, Canisius is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Canisius College

17
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
26 Annual Graduates

UNC Chapel Hill is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Chapel Hill.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

18
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
24 Annual Graduates

Located in the remote town of Plymouth, Plymouth State is a public university with a small student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Plymouth State University

19
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
23 Annual Graduates

Located in the small city of Amherst, UMass Amherst is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Massachusetts Amherst

20
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
15 Annual Graduates

SMC is a small private not-for-profit college located in the suburb of Moraga.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Saint Mary’s College of California

21
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
93 Annual Graduates

USFCA is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of San Francisco.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of San Francisco

22
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
125 Annual Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Florida State University

23
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
28 Annual Graduates

Colorado State is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Fort Collins.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Colorado State University - Fort Collins

24
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
25 Annual Graduates

Rutgers New Brunswick is a fairly large public university located in the city of New Brunswick.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Rutgers University - New Brunswick

25
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
54 Annual Graduates

Located in the midsize city of Athens, UGA is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Georgia

Rest of the Top Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools

26
27
28
WKU crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY
29
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
30
31
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
32

33
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

34
35
Endicott crest
Endicott College
Beverly, MA
36
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
37
38

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional great schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students that almost earned our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
39 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
40 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA
41 Arkansas State University - Main Campus Jonesboro, AR
42 Baylor University Waco, TX
43 Grand View University Des Moines, IA
44 Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX
45 SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
46 University of Mississippi University, MS
47 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC
48 Lindenwood University Saint Charles, MO
49 Aurora University Aurora, IL
50 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
51 University of North Alabama Florence, AL
52 University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
53 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
54 Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN
55 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI
56 University of Louisville Louisville, KY
57 Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX
58 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA
59 Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SC
60 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
61 East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN
62 Southern Nazarene University Bethany, OK
63 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO
64 California Baptist University Riverside, CA

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies by Region

View the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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Parks & Rec Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Health & Physical Education 9,192
Recreation Administration 360
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 174
Outdoor Education 65
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 25

Majors Similar to Parks & Rec

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Administration & Social Service 51,655

Notes and References

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