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

92 Ranked Colleges
7,637 Degrees Awarded
$29,660 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 72,741 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. 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 the Southwest region, there were 10,064 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,390 and $22,692 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 7,637 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,130 and $22,381 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 92 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

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The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region

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

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

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Jarvis Christian College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. The Bulldogs is a small school located in Hawkins, Texas that handed out 15 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The Bulldogs Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southwestern Christian University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region. SCU is located in Bethany, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 30 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southwestern Christian University

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Huston - Tillotson University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Huston - Tillotson University is located in Austin, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Huston - Tillotson University

4

Out of the 92 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ottawa University - Surprise landed the #4 spot on the list. Ottawa University - Surprise is a small school located in Surprise, Arizona that handed out 23 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 Ottawa University - Surprise

5
Bacone College crest
Bacone College
Muskogee, Oklahoma

Out of the 92 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bacone College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

Full Bacone College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

6

Texas Lutheran University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. TLU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Seguin, Texas. It awarded 35 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

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

7
Randall crest
Randall University
Moore, Oklahoma

Randall University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Randall is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Moore, Oklahoma. It awarded 14 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 Randall

8

Northwestern Oklahoma State University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. NWOSU is a small school located in Alva, Oklahoma that handed out 43 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

9

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is a public institution located in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 USAO Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

10
Howard Payne crest
Howard Payne University
Brownwood, Texas

With a ranking of #10, Howard Payne University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This small school is located in Brownwood, Texas, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Howard Payne University

11
Schreiner University crest
Schreiner University
Kerrville, Texas

Schreiner University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Schreiner University is located in Kerrville, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Schreiner University

12

Sul Ross State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Sul Ross is a small school located in Alpine, Texas that handed out 33 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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

13
Tarleton crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, Texas

With a ranking of #13, Tarleton State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Tarleton is a fairly large school located in Stephenville, Texas that handed out 207 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

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

14

Oklahoma Panhandle State University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. OPSU is a public institution located in Goodwell, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 30 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

15

East Central University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #15. East Central University is a public institution located in Ada, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 76 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full East Central University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

16
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

With a ranking of #16, Texas State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 462 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

17

Hardin - Simmons University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. Abilene, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to 39 students 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 Hardin - Simmons University

18

Lubbock Christian University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. LCU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lubbock, Texas. It awarded 29 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lubbock Christian University

19

Prairie View A & M University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Prairie View, Texas, and it awarded 146 bachelors’s parks & rec 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%.

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

20

Oral Roberts University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #20. Oral Roberts University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It awarded 36 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Oral Roberts University

21

With a ranking of #21, The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. UTSA is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 417 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio

22
Cameron University crest
Cameron University
Lawton, Oklahoma

Cameron University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Lawton, Oklahoma, this small public school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cameron University

23

Stephen F Austin State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #23. This fairly large school is located in Nacogdoches, Texas, and it awarded 149 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees 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%.

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

24

University of the Southwest did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #24. University of the Southwest is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hobbs, New Mexico. It awarded 25 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of the Southwest

25
Southwestern crest
Southwestern University
Georgetown, Texas

Southwestern University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Southwestern University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Georgetown, Texas. It awarded 26 bachelors’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

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