by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege 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
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:
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
View the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| 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 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration & Social Service | 51,655 |