2023 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Virginia
24
Ranked Colleges
$29,900
Avg Cost*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia” ranking - to help you make that 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.
Across Virginia, there were 1,724 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,082 and $25,946 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree 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.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
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 Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia”.
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 Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia”.
Top 24 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in 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 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 ’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%.
Full Bridgewater Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Randolph College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 33 students 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Randolph College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Emory and Henry College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Emory and Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Emory, Virginia. It awarded 38 ’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 and Henry College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Roanoke College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia. Salem, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 46 students 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 Roanoke
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferrum College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia. Ferrum College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ferrum, Virginia. It awarded 9 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ferrum College
Averett University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #6. AU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Danville, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 33 ’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 Averett University
Hampton University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Hampton, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 71 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hampton
Bluefield College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Bluefield College is a small school located in Bluefield, Virginia that handed out 12 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bluefield College
Virginia Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #9. Virginia Wesleyan University is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 8 ’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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at VWU
With a ranking of #10, James Madison University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. James Madison University is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 268 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at James Madison University
William & Mary came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 112 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at William & Mary
Eastern Mennonite University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Eastern Mennonite is a private not-for-profit institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Eastern Mennonite
University of Lynchburg did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified ’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 Lynchburg Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Old Dominion University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, this large public school awarded 152 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students 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 Old Dominion
Longwood University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Longwood University is located in Farmville, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 31 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Full Longwood University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Virginia State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #16. Virginia State is located in Petersburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 14 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Virginia State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Norfolk State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #17. Norfolk State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 27 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Norfolk State University
Radford University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Radford University is a medium-sized school located in Radford, Virginia that handed out 55 ’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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Radford
Liberty University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #19. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 386 students in 2021-2022.
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 Liberty University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Shenandoah University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #20. Shenandoah is located in Winchester, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 30 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.
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 University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. University of Virginia is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 121 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
George Mason University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #22. GMU is a public institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 128 ’s degrees 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%.
Full George Mason University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Richmond, Virginia, this large public school awarded 52 diplomas to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Virginia Commonwealth University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #24, Northern Virginia Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution located in Annandale, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Northern Virginia Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
