2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
399
Ranked Colleges
10,139
Degrees Awarded
$41,830
Avg Salary
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 10,139 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking analyzed 399 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.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
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 Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. 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 Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree parks & rec students.
Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend United States Sports Academy. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. United States Sports Academy is a small school located in Daphne, Alabama that handed out 18 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
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. 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%.
Full United States Sports Academy Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 399 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Irvine landed the #2 spot on the list. Concordia University, Irvine is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Irvine, California. It awarded 333 masters’s parks & rec degrees 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Irvine
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Logan University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Logan University is a small school located in Chesterfield, Missouri that handed out 111 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Logan University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 250 masters’s parks & rec degrees 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago
Southeastern Oklahoma State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #6. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a public institution located in Durant, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 183 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University
University of the Southwest did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #7. University of the Southwest is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hobbs, New Mexico. It awarded 18 masters’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 USW
With a ranking of #8, Coker University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This small school is located in Hartsville, South Carolina, and it awarded 18 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Coker University
William Penn University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. William Penn University is a small school located in Oskaloosa, Iowa that handed out 22 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full William Penn University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #11, LaGrange College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. LaGrange is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lagrange, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at LaGrange
Lasell University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Newton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 26 degrees to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 Lasell
Randolph College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #13. Randolph College is a small school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 15 masters’s parks & rec degrees 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Randolph
Canisius College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Canisius is located in Buffalo, New York and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 62 masters’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Canisius College
Reinhardt University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #15. Reinhardt University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waleska, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Reinhardt University
With a ranking of #16, Webber International University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Babson Park, Florida, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.
Full Webber International University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Hardin - Simmons University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Hardin - Simmons is a small school located in Abilene, Texas that handed out 28 masters’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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hardin - Simmons
University of Western States came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Western States Chiropractic College is a small school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 0 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western States Chiropractic College
East Central University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Ada, Oklahoma, this small public school awarded 36 degrees to qualified masters’s parks & rec students 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Central University
Grambling State University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. GSU is located in Grambling, Louisiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 28 masters’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at GSU
With a ranking of #21, Southern Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. SNU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bethany, Oklahoma. It awarded 34 masters’s parks & rec degrees 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SNU
Wingate University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Wingate, North Carolina, and it awarded 31 masters’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 Wingate
California Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #23. Cal Baptist is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 122 masters’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%.
Full California Baptist University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Concordia University, Saint Paul landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 99 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 Concordia University, Saint Paul
Mississippi Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #25. Mississippi Valley State University is a small public school situated in Itta Bena, Mississippi. It awarded 14 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mississippi Valley State University
