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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region

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Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools 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.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 151 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.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region

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

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

1

Out of the 151 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Jarvis Christian College landed the #1 spot on the list. The Bulldogs is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hawkins, Texas. It awarded 15 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

2
Bryan University crest
Bryan University
Tempe, Arizona

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bryan University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region. Bryan University is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 308 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

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%.

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

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southwestern Christian University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region. This small school is located in Bethany, Oklahoma, and it awarded 30 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Huston - Tillotson University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Huston - Tillotson University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Huston - Tillotson University

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ottawa University - Surprise. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region. Ottawa University - Surprise is a private not-for-profit institution located in Surprise, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ottawa University - Surprise

6
Bacone College crest
Bacone College
Muskogee, Oklahoma

With a ranking of #6, Bacone College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Bacone College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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

7

University of the Southwest came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. University of the Southwest is a small school located in Hobbs, New Mexico that handed out 43 ’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%.

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

8

Texas Lutheran University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. TLU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Seguin, Texas. It awarded 35 ’s parks & rec degrees 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 Texas Lutheran University

9

Southeastern Oklahoma State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized school located in Durant, Oklahoma that handed out 225 ’s parks & rec 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%.

Full Southeastern Oklahoma State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

10

Hardin - Simmons University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Abilene, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 67 diplomas to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hardin - Simmons University

11

East Central University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #11. Ada, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 112 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 East Central University

12
Randall crest
Randall University
Moore, Oklahoma

With a ranking of #12, Randall University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Randall University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Moore, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s 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%.

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

13

Sul Ross State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Alpine, Texas, this small public school handed out 54 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

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

14
Howard Payne crest
Howard Payne University
Brownwood, Texas

With a ranking of #14, Howard Payne University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Howard Payne is located in Brownwood, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 14 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Howard Payne University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

15

Northwestern Oklahoma State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a small school located in Alva, Oklahoma that handed out 43 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

16
Tarleton crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, Texas

Tarleton State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Stephenville, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 283 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students 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

17

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Chickasha, Oklahoma, this small public school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students 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

18

Oral Roberts University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #18. ORU is a medium-sized school located in Tulsa, Oklahoma that handed out 50 ’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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Oral Roberts University

19
Schreiner University crest
Schreiner University
Kerrville, Texas

With a ranking of #19, Schreiner University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Schreiner University is located in Kerrville, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 35 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

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 Schreiner University

20

With a ranking of #20, East Texas Baptist University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. East Texas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marshall, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s 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%.

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

21
Prescot College crest
Prescott College
Prescott, Arizona

Prescott College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Prescot College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Prescott, Arizona. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 ’s 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%. 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 Prescot College

22

With a ranking of #22, Oklahoma Panhandle State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This small school is located in Goodwell, Oklahoma, and it awarded 30 ’s parks & rec 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%.

Full Oklahoma Panhandle State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

23
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

Texas State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Texas State is a large public school situated in San Marcos, Texas. It awarded 512 ’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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas State University

24
Angelo State crest
Angelo State University
San Angelo, Texas

With a ranking of #24, Angelo State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This fairly large school is located in San Angelo, Texas, and it awarded 100 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

25

Southern Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Bethany, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 56 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec 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%.

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

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