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2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region

61 Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
1,596 Master's Degrees
$37,944 Avg Early-Career Salary
When it comes to popularity, a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies sits in the middle of the road, ranking #17 out of 37 majors in the country. As such, the degree program isn't offered at every college in the United States, but there are schools that do have a program in the field that are top-notch when it comes to quality.

College Factual looked at 61 colleges and universities when compiling its 2022 Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,596 master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies during the 2019-2020 academic year.

What's on this page: * Other Rankings

Choosing a Great Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for Your Master's Degree

Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region Your choice of school for getting your master's degree in parks and rec matters. As an aid in helping you pick the right school for you, we created our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region ranking.

While being high in popularity does not always mean a school has a quality parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program, it is a sign that a large number of students choose the school. This may be due to it being a great value, it offering a stellar educational experience, or the subject is a major focus of the school.

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

Associate Degrees in Parks & Rec
Bachelor's Degrees in Parks & Rec
Doctor's Degrees in Parks & Rec
Overall Popularity in Parks & Rec

This is not our only ranking, nor the only degree level we have ranked. In addition to this ranking, you may want to take at the rankings for different degree levels as called out above. You can also narrow your search by location by filtering for a certain area of the country. Plus, you can view our other rankings for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies.

Learn about the most popular colleges and universities for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students seeking a a master's degree.

10 Most Well Attended Schools for Parks & Rec Students Working on Their Master's

1
257 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In IL
#4 Best Quality In IL

Any student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies needs to take a look at Concordia University, Chicago. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Illinois.

There were approximately 257 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University, Chicago in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from Concordia University, Chicago

2
181 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In OH
#3 Best Quality In OH

Ohio University - Athens Campus is a popular choice for individuals pursuing a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Located in the distant town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public university with a very large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Ohio.

There were roughly 181 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at OHIO Athens in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from Ohio University - Athens Campus

3
78 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In IL
#3 Best Quality In IL

Illinois State University is one of the most popular schools in the country for getting a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Illinois State is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Normal. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Illinois.

There were about 78 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at Illinois State in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from Illinois State University

4
74 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In IL
#8 Best Quality In IL

Every student who is interested in a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies has to check out Western Illinois University. Located in the town of Macomb, WIU is a public university with a moderately-sized student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #8 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Illinois.

There were approximately 74 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at WIU in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from Western Illinois University

5
65 Annual Master's Degrees
#4 Most Popular In IL
#5 Best Quality In IL

SIUE is a large public university located in the suburb of Edwardsville. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #5 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Illinois.

There were roughly 65 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at SIUE in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

6
54 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In OH
#5 Best Quality In OH

Located in the large city of Cincinnati, UC is a public university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #5 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Ohio.

There were roughly 54 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at UC in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

7
53 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In IN
#1 Best Quality In IN

Located in the city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public university with a fairly large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #1 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Indiana.

There were roughly 53 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at IU Bloomington in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from Indiana University - Bloomington

8
47 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In MI
#1 Best Quality In MI

Located in the medium-sized city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Michigan.

There were roughly 47 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

9
44 Annual Master's Degrees
#5 Most Popular In IL
#2 Best Quality In IL

UIUC is a very large public university located in the city of Champaign. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Illinois.

There were about 44 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

10
42 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In OH
#2 Best Quality In OH

Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public university with a very large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #2 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Ohio.

There were about 42 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at Ohio State in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from Ohio State University - Main Campus

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region award.

Rank College Location
11 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse La Crosse, WI
12 Wayne State University Detroit, MI
13 Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH
14 Northwestern University Evanston, IL
14 Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL

Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges by State

Explore the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Illinois 34 553
Indiana 33 137
Michigan 31 209
Wisconsin 31 99
Ohio 31 547

View All Rankings >

Parks & Rec Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Health & Physical Education 1,456
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 89
Recreation Administration 42
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 9

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Administration & Social Service 7,451
Legal Professions 1,395
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting 809
Military Technologies & Applied Sciences 9

Notes and References

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