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

22 Ranked Colleges
1,313 Degrees Awarded
$29,019 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 Virginia” 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 Virginia, there were 1,724 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,082 and $25,946 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,313 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,755 and $24,761 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. That schools that top this list have a program in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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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 Virginia” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. 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.

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

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

Top 22 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Virginia

1
Bridgewater crest
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bridgewater College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia. Bridgewater is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgewater, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 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%.

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

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Emory and Henry College. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia. Emory & Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Emory, Virginia. It awarded 38 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Emory & Henry College

3
Roanoke crest
Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia

Out of the 22 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Roanoke College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Salem, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 46 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Roanoke College

4
Ferrum College crest
Ferrum College
Ferrum, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferrum College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia. Ferrum College is located in Ferrum, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

5
AU crest
Averett University
Danville, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Averett University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia. AU is located in Danville, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 33 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Averett University

6
Bluefield College crest
Bluefield College
Bluefield, Virginia

Bluefield College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #6. Bluefield College is located in Bluefield, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

7
Hampton crest
Hampton University
Hampton, Virginia

Hampton University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #7. Hampton, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 63 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

8
VWU crest
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Wesleyan University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 8 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Virginia Wesleyan University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

9
Randolph crest
Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #9, Randolph College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Randolph College is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

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

10
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 256 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at James Madison University

11
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

William & Mary ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 112 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

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

12
Eastern Mennonite crest
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #12, Eastern Mennonite University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Eastern Mennonite University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Eastern Mennonite

13
Lynchburg crest
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia

University of Lynchburg came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. This small school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 21 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

14
Longwood crest
Longwood University
Farmville, Virginia

Longwood University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Longwood University is a small school located in Farmville, Virginia that handed out 31 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

15
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

With a ranking of #15, Old Dominion University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Old Dominion University is a large school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 120 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Old Dominion University

16
Norfolk State crest
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

Full Norfolk State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

17
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Radford, Virginia, this medium-sized public school awarded 55 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

18
Shenandoah crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia

Shenandoah University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Shenandoah University is a small school located in Winchester, Virginia that handed out 30 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

19
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school awarded 95 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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 University of Virginia - Main Campus

20
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. This large school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 181 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Liberty University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

21
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. GMU is a large school located in Fairfax, Virginia that handed out 96 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full George Mason University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

22

Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. VCU is a large public school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 52 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

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