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2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

66 Ranked Colleges
323 Degrees Awarded
$69,500 Avg Salary
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 323 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,735 and $124,256 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking looked at 66 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.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. 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 Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

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

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

1

Out of the 66 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, United States Sports Academy landed the #1 spot on the list. United States Sports Academy is located in Daphne, Alabama and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 16 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

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%. 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.

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

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Western States. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Located in Portland, Oregon, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 0 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full University of Western States Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

3
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

Out of the 66 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the #3 spot on the list. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s parks & rec degrees to 27 students 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%.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. RMUoHP is a small private for-profit school situated in Provo, Utah. It awarded 1 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 26 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

6
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Springfield College is a small school located in Springfield, Massachusetts that handed out 1 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

7
TROY crest
Troy University
Troy, Alabama

Troy University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Troy University is located in Troy, Alabama and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Troy University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

8

University of Northern Colorado did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #8. Greeley, Colorado is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks & rec degrees to 8 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Northern Colorado Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

9

Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #9. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

10
ETSU crest
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee

East Tennessee State University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, this fairly large public school awarded 6 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s parks & rec 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%.

Full East Tennessee State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

11
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

University of Houston did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #11. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks & rec degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

12

With a ranking of #12, University of Alabama at Birmingham did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Birmingham, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks & rec degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

13

Texas Woman’s University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Texas Woman’s University is a fairly large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 4 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees 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%.

Full Texas Woman’s University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

14

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #14. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 9 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

15
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, 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 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

16

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #16. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 doctorate’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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington

17
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This large school is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full The University of Alabama Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

18
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Clemson University is located in Clemson, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 Clemson University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

19
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a large public school situated in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It awarded 13 doctorate’s parks & rec 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 Middle Tennessee State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

20
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #20. Georgia State is a large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 2 doctorate’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%.

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

21
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

West Virginia University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Morgantown, West Virginia, this large public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified doctorate’s parks & rec students 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%.

Full West Virginia University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

22

Iowa State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 1 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Iowa State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

23

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #23 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. The University of Texas at Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UT Austin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

24

With a ranking of #24, Baylor University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Baylor University is a large school located in Waco, Texas that handed out 5 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Baylor University

25

University of Nebraska at Omaha landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. UNOMAHA is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 2 doctorate’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UNOMAHA

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References

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