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2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region

50 Ranked Colleges
1,208 Degrees Awarded
$41,150 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking.

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 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 master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,208 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,505 and $37,295 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, we looked at 50 colleges that offer 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.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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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 Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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. 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 in the Southwest Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region”.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’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 Southeastern Oklahoma State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized school located in Durant, Oklahoma that handed out 183 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Southeastern Oklahoma State University

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of the Southwest. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region. USW 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hardin - Simmons University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Abilene, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks & rec degrees to 28 students 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

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend East Central University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Ada, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks & rec degrees to 36 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Central University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Nazarene University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region 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 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%.

Full Southern Nazarene University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

6

Sul Ross State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. Located in Alpine, Texas, this small public school awarded 21 degrees to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

Full Sul Ross State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

7
Prescot College crest
Prescott College
Prescott, Arizona

Prescott College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Prescott, Arizona, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. 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%.

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

8

East Texas Baptist University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. East Texas Baptist University is located in Marshall, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 masters’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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Texas Baptist University

9
Howard Payne crest
Howard Payne University
Brownwood, Texas

Howard Payne University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Howard Payne University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Brownwood, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 Howard Payne

10
MSU Texas crest
MSU Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. MSU Texas is a public institution located in Wichita Falls, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full MSU Texas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

11

University of Mary Hardin - Baylor did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #11. Belton, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks & rec degrees to 26 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Mary Hardin - Baylor

12

Oral Roberts University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. ORU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Oral Roberts University

13

Texas A&M University - Commerce did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #13. This fairly large school is located in Commerce, Texas, and it awarded 41 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 Texas A&M University - Commerce

14
Tarleton crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Tarleton State University is a public institution located in Stephenville, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 76 masters’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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Tarleton State University

15

Houston Baptist University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 14 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

16

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Odessa, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.

Full UT Permian Basin Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

17
Angelo State crest
Angelo State University
San Angelo, Texas

Angelo State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. Angelo State University is a public institution located in San Angelo, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 21 masters’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 Angelo State

18

With a ranking of #18, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Texas A&M Corpus Christi is a fairly large school located in Corpus Christi, Texas that handed out 12 masters’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 Texas A&M Corpus Christi

19

Texas Southern University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Houston, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks & rec degrees to 15 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Texas Southern University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

20

Dallas Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #20. This small school is located in Dallas, Texas, and it awarded 18 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Dallas Baptist University

21

Baylor University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Waco, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks & rec degrees to 27 students 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

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

22

West Texas A&M University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. West Texas A&M University is a medium-sized public school situated in Canyon, Texas. It awarded 6 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at West Texas A&M University

23
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #23. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 50 masters’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 Texas State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

24

University of the Incarnate Word landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. UIW is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 masters’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 University of the Incarnate Word

25

Texas Woman’s University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This fairly large school is located in Denton, Texas, and it awarded 22 masters’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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 Texas Woman’s University

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