by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual reviewed 76 schools in the Southeast Region to determine which ones were the best for master's degree seekers in the field of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 3,272 master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies during the 2022-2023 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. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.
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.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.
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 schools 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 in the Southeast Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
The following list ranks the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. 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 Florida is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the midsize 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 difficult to beat North Carolina State University if you want to pursue a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. 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
It is difficult to beat University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill if you want to pursue a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. UNC Chapel Hill is a very large public university located in the city of Chapel Hill.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Florida State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Florida State University
Located in the city of Athens, UGA 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 Georgia
Located in the city of Bowling Green, WKU is a public university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Western Kentucky University
Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Liberty University
Located in the midsize city of Knoxville, UT Knoxville is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
U Miami is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Coral Gables.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Miami
JMU is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Harrisonburg.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from James Madison University
Located in the town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from American Public University System
Clemson is a very large public university located in the suburb of Clemson.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Clemson University
Located in the town of Statesboro, GaSou is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Georgia Southern University
A-State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Jonesboro.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Arkansas State University - Main Campus
Ole Miss is a fairly large public university located in the town of University.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Mississippi
Here are some additional great schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | University of South Carolina - Columbia | Columbia, SC |
| 17 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR |
| 18 | University of North Alabama | Florence, AL |
| 19 | University of Virginia - Main Campus | Charlottesville, VA |
| 20 | University of Louisville | Louisville, KY |
| 21 | Citadel Military College of South Carolina | Charleston, SC |
| 22 | East Tennessee State University | Johnson City, TN |
| 23 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | Baton Rouge, LA |
| 24 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC |
| 25 | George Mason University | Fairfax, VA |
Explore the best parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies schools for a specific state in the Southeast Region .
| State | Colleges | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 34 | 147 |
| Florida | 34 | 439 |
| Virginia | 33 | 419 |
| Georgia | 32 | 293 |
| Tennessee | 32 | 269 |
| North Carolina | 31 | 246 |
| Kentucky | 31 | 226 |
| West Virginia | 30 | 220 |
| Alabama | 30 | 180 |
| Louisiana | 30 | 152 |
| South Carolina | 30 | 209 |
| Arkansas | 30 | 291 |
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 3,036 |
| Recreation Administration | 201 |
| Outdoor Education | 17 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 10 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 8 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration & Social Service | 9,864 |