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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in California

49 Ranked Colleges
5,946 Degrees Awarded
$30,000 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2021-2022, 72,741 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. In , parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $31,466 and had an average of $24,117 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 11,233 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,104 and $20,820 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 5,946 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,904 and $19,503 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California” ranking analyzed 49 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in California

1
Whittier crest
Whittier College
Whittier, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Whittier College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Located in Whittier, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 46 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 Whittier Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

2
University of Saint Katherine crest
University of Saint Katherine
San Marcos, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Saint Katherine. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. San Marcos, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 15 students in 2021-2022.

Full University of Saint Katherine Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

3
Westmont crest
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westmont College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California. This small school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 36 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Westmont College

4
HNU crest
Holy Names University
Oakland, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Holy Names University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California. Oakland, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 19 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Holy Names University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

5

Out of the 49 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #5 spot on the list. CSUMB is a medium-sized school located in Seaside, California that handed out 172 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full CSUMB Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

6

California State University - Chico landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Chico State is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 297 bachelors’s 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, & Fitness Studies Report

7
UAV crest
University of Antelope Valley
Lancaster, California

University of Antelope Valley came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. University of Antelope Valley is located in Lancaster, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UAV

8
San Diego Christian crest
San Diego Christian College
Spring Valley, California

San Diego Christian College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. San Diego Christian is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spring Valley, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full San Diego Christian Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

9
Humboldt State University crest
Humboldt State University
Arcata, California

Humboldt State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Humboldt State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Arcata, California. It awarded 96 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Humboldt State University

10

Vanguard University of Southern California did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #10. Vanguard University of Southern California is a small school located in Costa Mesa, California that handed out 43 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Vanguard Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

11
La Sierra crest
La Sierra University
Riverside, California

La Sierra University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. La Sierra is located in Riverside, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full La Sierra University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

12

With a ranking of #12, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Fresno State is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 275 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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, & Fitness Studies at Fresno State

13

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #13. Cal State LA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 242 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full California State University - Los Angeles Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

14

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Fullerton did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Cal State Fullerton is located in Fullerton, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 541 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal State Fullerton

15
William Jessup University crest
William Jessup University
Rocklin, California

William Jessup University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #15. William Jessup University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rocklin, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at William Jessup University

16

With a ranking of #16, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. This large school is located in Sacramento, California, and it awarded 375 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California State University - Sacramento

17
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

California Baptist University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 114 bachelors’s 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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal Baptist

18
The Master's University crest
The Master's University and Seminary
Santa Clarita, California

The Master’s University and Seminary came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. The Master’s University is located in Santa Clarita, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The Master’s University and Seminary

19

California State University - East Bay landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 230 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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, & Fitness Studies at California State University - East Bay

20

California State University - Bakersfield did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #20. CSUB is a medium-sized school located in Bakersfield, California that handed out 106 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees 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%.

Full CSUB Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

21
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 425 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full San Diego State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

22

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. CSUSB is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 205 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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, & Fitness Studies at CSUSB

23

California State University - San Marcos ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school awarded 126 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at CSUSM

24
SSU crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California

Sonoma State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #24. Rohnert Park, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 116 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Sonoma State University

25

With a ranking of #25, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. California State University - Northridge is a public institution located in Northridge, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 442 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California State University - Northridge

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