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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

1,386 Ranked Colleges
73,813 Degrees Awarded
$29,000 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major” ranking analyzed 1,386 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. To top this list, a school must have a successful parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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More Parks & Rec Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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 “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major” list to help you make the college decision.

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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major”.

1
American Military University crest
American Public University System
Charles Town, West Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Public University System. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major. American Military University is located in Charles Town, West Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 683 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full American Military University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

2
Iowa crest
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major. University of Iowa is a public institution located in Iowa City, Iowa. The school has a large population, and it awarded 675 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 University of Iowa

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. Indiana University - Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 643 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

4
Texas State crest
Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Texas State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 627 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 581 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal State Fullerton

6

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 646 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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 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%.

Full Texas A&M College Station Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

7
UofM crest
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

University of Memphis did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #7. University of Memphis is a large school located in Memphis, Tennessee that handed out 545 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

8

The University of Texas at San Antonio came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. UTSA is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 506 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Texas at San Antonio

9
Mt. SAC crest
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California

Mt. San Antonio College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. Mt. SAC is a large school located in Walnut, California that handed out 521 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Mt. SAC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

10

California State University - Northridge landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 495 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

11

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 491 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full California State University - Long Beach Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

11
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 490 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Houston

13
Rutgers New Brunswick crest
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University - New Brunswick ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. This large school is located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and it awarded 456 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Rutgers New Brunswick

14
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 454 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 San Diego State University

15
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 442 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan State University

16

Concordia University, Irvine came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. This small school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 438 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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 Concordia University, Irvine

17
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

With a ranking of #17, Concordia University, Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. Located in River Forest, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 429 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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%.

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

18

With a ranking of #18, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large school located in Knoxville, Tennessee that handed out 414 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UT Knoxville

19

California State University - Sacramento came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. California State University - Sacramento is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 404 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

20

With a ranking of #20, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. Chapel Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 401 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, 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 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UNC Chapel Hill Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

21

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 394 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

22
GaSou crest
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia

Georgia Southern University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. Statesboro, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 397 students in 2020-2021.

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

23
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #23, Liberty University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 403 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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

24
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. U of U is a large public school situated in Salt Lake City, Utah. It awarded 382 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, 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 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Utah

25

Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #25. Arizona State University - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 391 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, 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 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at ASU - Tempe

Rest of the Best 50 in Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
College of the Canyons crest
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, California
28
29
SUNY Cortland crest
SUNY Cortland
Cortland, New York
30
31
32
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia
32
34
35
35
37
38
39
40
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi
41
Appalachian State crest
Appalachian State University
Boone, North Carolina
42
43
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
44
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
45
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
46
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
46
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California
48
Tarleton crest
Tarleton State University
Stephenville, Texas
49
50
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51Arkansas State University - Main CampusJonesboro, AR
52University of South Carolina - ColumbiaColumbia, SC
53San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, CA
53Florida International UniversityMiami, FL
55University of FloridaGainesville, FL
56University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY
57Brigham Young University - ProvoProvo, UT
58Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZ
58University of Nevada - Las VegasLas Vegas, NV
60West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV
61The University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL
62Coastal Carolina UniversityConway, SC
63The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX
63Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR
65University of Wisconsin - La CrosseLa Crosse, WI
RankCollegeLocation
66Iowa State UniversityAmes, IA
66Towson UniversityTowson, MD
68University of North Carolina at WilmingtonWilmington, NC
68Ohio State University - Main CampusColumbus, OH
70California State University - East BayHayward, CA
70University of Maryland - College ParkCollege Park, MD
72University of MississippiUniversity, MS
73California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA
74Clemson UniversityClemson, SC
75Illinois State UniversityNormal, IL
76Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL
77Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY
78University of KansasLawrence, KS
78Kennesaw State UniversityKennesaw, GA
80Southern New Hampshire UniversityManchester, NH
80Middle Tennessee State UniversityMurfreesboro, TN
82West Chester University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester, PA
83The University of Texas at El PasoEl Paso, TX
84The University of Tennessee - ChattanoogaChattanooga, TN
85University of North GeorgiaDahlonega, GA
86Bowling Green State University - Main CampusBowling Green, OH
86University of Northern ColoradoGreeley, CO
86California State University - San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CA
89University of Southern MississippiHattiesburg, MS
89California State Polytechnic University - PomonaPomona, CA
RankCollegeLocation
91Concordia University, Saint PaulSaint Paul, MN
92Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton, FL
93University of DelawareNewark, DE
94Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant, OK
95East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC
96Keiser University - Ft LauderdaleFort Lauderdale, FL
96The College at BrockportBrockport, NY
98Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ
99North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, NC
99California State University - San MarcosSan Marcos, CA
101Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN
102Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBaton Rouge, LA
102Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX
104Minnesota State University - MankatoMankato, MN
105University of Oklahoma Norman CampusNorman, OK
106Riverside City CollegeRiverside, CA
107University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI
108East Tennessee State UniversityJohnson City, TN
109California State University - Dominguez HillsCarson, CA
110University of New Hampshire - Main CampusDurham, NH
111Texas Woman’s UniversityDenton, TX
112Sam Houston State UniversityHuntsville, TX
113Washington State UniversityPullman, WA
113Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA
115University of Illinois at ChicagoChicago, IL
RankCollegeLocation
116California State University - Monterey BaySeaside, CA
117University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA
118North Carolina A & T State UniversityGreensboro, NC
118Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN
120Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC
120Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY
122Colorado Mesa UniversityGrand Junction, CO
123The University of West FloridaPensacola, FL
123Baylor UniversityWaco, TX
125University of Wisconsin - MadisonMadison, WI
125Indiana State UniversityTerre Haute, IN
125Bryan UniversityTempe, AZ
128Texas A&M University - Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TX
128University of Massachusetts AmherstAmherst, MA
130University of Massachusetts - BostonBoston, MA
131Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VA
131University of Cincinnati - Main CampusCincinnati, OH
133Eastern Kentucky UniversityRichmond, KY
134University of IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN
134Western Michigan UniversityKalamazoo, MI
136Southeastern Louisiana UniversityHammond, LA
136Southern Illinois University CarbondaleCarbondale, IL
138Missouri State University - SpringfieldSpringfield, MO
139Utah Valley UniversityOrem, UT
140St John’s University - New YorkQueens, NY
RankCollegeLocation
140Texas A&M University - CommerceCommerce, TX
142Utah State UniversityLogan, UT
142East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaEast Stroudsburg, PA
142University of Northern IowaCedar Falls, IA
142Purdue University - Main CampusWest Lafayette, IN
146Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL
146Oklahoma State University - Main CampusStillwater, OK
148Central Washington UniversityEllensburg, WA
148Humboldt State UniversityArcata, CA
148California State University - BakersfieldBakersfield, CA
148Kent State University at KentKent, OH
148Springfield CollegeSpringfield, MA
153University of Central ArkansasConway, AR
153Lindenwood UniversitySaint Charles, MO
155Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver, CO
155University of ToledoToledo, OH
157William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA
158University of Minnesota - Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN
158University of North Carolina at CharlotteCharlotte, NC
160Angelo State UniversitySan Angelo, TX
161University of Missouri - ColumbiaColumbia, MO
161Saint Louis UniversitySaint Louis, MO
161Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ
164Wingate UniversityWingate, NC
164Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, IL
RankCollegeLocation
166University of Virginia - Main CampusCharlottesville, VA
166University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, NC
166Southern Utah UniversityCedar City, UT
169Texas Tech UniversityLubbock, TX
169Western Washington UniversityBellingham, WA
169The University of Texas at TylerTyler, TX
172Canisius CollegeBuffalo, NY
172University of North AlabamaFlorence, AL
174Indiana University - Purdue University - IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN
174Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilanti, MI
176Lock Haven UniversityLock Haven, PA
176George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA
176International Sports Sciences AssociationCarpinteria, CA
179Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main CampusIndiana, PA
180Troy UniversityTroy, AL
180Carroll UniversityWaukesha, WI
180Salisbury UniversitySalisbury, MD
183Tennessee Technological UniversityCookeville, TN
183University of Central MissouriWarrensburg, MO
183University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI
186William Paterson University of New JerseyWayne, NJ
186Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston, IL
186California State University - StanislausTurlock, CA
186Prairie View A & M UniversityPrairie View, TX
190Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX
RankCollegeLocation
190Winston - Salem State UniversityWinston-Salem, NC
192Rice UniversityHouston, TX
193Pasadena City CollegePasadena, CA
194Endicott CollegeBeverly, MA
194Slippery Rock University of PennsylvaniaSlippery Rock, PA
196University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL
196Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven, CT
196University of West GeorgiaCarrollton, GA
199Western Carolina UniversityCullowhee, NC
200Georgia College & State UniversityMilledgeville, GA
200Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, IL
202University of WyomingLaramie, WY
203Winthrop UniversityRock Hill, SC
204Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown, PA
204Logan UniversityChesterfield, MO
204Boise State UniversityBoise, ID
204University of Louisiana at MonroeMonroe, LA
204Winona State UniversityWinona, MN

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