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

107 Colleges in the Southeast Region
2,885 Master's Degrees
$38,672 Avg Early-Career Salary
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies isn't the most popular master's program in the world, but it's not the least popular either. To be more precise it ranks #17 in popularity out of 37 majors in the country. So, it might take a little more work to find colleges and universities that offer the degree program.

For its 2022 ranking, College Factual looked at 107 schools in the Southeast Region to determine which ones were the most popular for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 2,885 master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies to qualified students.

Jump to one of the following sections: * 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 Southeast Region The parks and rec master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. 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 Southeast Region ranking.

A high popularity ranking isn't always a sign that a school has a great overall quality ranking for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, but it does mean that many students are choosing the school for some reason. Sometimes this is because the school offers a great educational experience, it is a good value, or it is highly focused on the program.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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

We have also developed a number of other rankings to help guide you in your decision-making process. To begin with, if this is not the degree level you are most interested in, you may want to check out one of the others noted above. If you would prefer to limit your search to a specific state or region of the county, see our rankings by location. On top of that, you can visit our other rankings for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies.

Below you'll see a list of the most popular colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

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

1
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
176 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In VA
#6 Best Quality In VA

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at Liberty University if you want to pursue a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #6 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Virginia.

There were approximately 176 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year.

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

2
167 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In AR
#2 Best Quality In AR

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at Arkansas State University - Main Campus if you wish to pursue a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. A-State is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Jonesboro. 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 Arkansas.

There were roughly 167 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at A-State in the most recent year we have data available.

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

3
143 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In WV
#1 Best Quality In WV

American Public University System is one of the most popular schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit university with a fairly large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in West Virginia.

There were approximately 143 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at American Military University in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from American Public University System

4
98 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In GA
#2 Best Quality In GA

You'll be surrounded by many like-minded peers at Georgia Southern University if you want to pursue a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. Located in the distant town of Statesboro, GaSou is a public university with a fairly 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 Georgia.

There were about 98 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at GaSou in the most recent year we have data available.

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

5
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC
86 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In SC
#1 Best Quality In SC

Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson is a public university with a fairly large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in South Carolina.

There were roughly 86 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at Clemson in the most recent year we have data available.

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

6
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
67 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In FL
#2 Best Quality In FL

Located in the city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a fairly 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 Florida.

There were about 67 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UF in the most recent year we have data available.

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

7
WKU crest
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY
66 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In KY
#1 Best Quality In KY

Located in the city of Bowling Green, WKU is a public university with a large student population. You also may be intersted to know that the school ranks #1 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Kentucky.

There were approximately 66 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at WKU in the most recent year we have data available.

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

8
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
65 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In FL
#1 Best Quality In FL

Located in the city of Coral Gables, U Miami is a private not-for-profit university with a 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 Florida.

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

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

9
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
61 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In FL
#4 Best Quality In FL

Located in the midsize city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public university with a very large student population. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #4 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Florida.

There were approximately 61 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Florida State in the most recent data year.

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

10
57 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In TN
#1 Best Quality In TN

Located in the midsize city of Knoxville, UT Knoxville 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 Tennessee.

There were about 57 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at UT Knoxville in the most recent data year.

More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies from The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

11
56 Annual Master's Degrees
#4 Most Popular In FL
#3 Best Quality In FL

USF Tampa is a very large public university located in the city of Tampa. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #3 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Florida.

There were roughly 56 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at USF Tampa in the most recent year we have data available.

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

12
50 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In VA
#4 Best Quality In VA

Located in the city of Richmond, VCU is a public university with a fairly large student population. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #4 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Virginia.

There were approximately 50 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at VCU in the most recent data year.

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

13
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
48 Annual Master's Degrees
#3 Most Popular In VA
#2 Best Quality In VA

JMU is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Harrisonburg. 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 Virginia.

There were about 48 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at JMU in the most recent data year.

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

14
46 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In NC
#5 Best Quality In NC

ECU is a very large public university located in the small city of Greenville. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #5 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in North Carolina.

There were approximately 46 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at ECU in the most recent year we have data available.

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

15
44 Annual Master's Degrees
#1 Most Popular In LA
#6 Best Quality In LA

GSU is a moderately-sized public university located in the town of Grambling. Potential students might also be interested to know that the school ranks #6 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Louisiana.

There were roughly 44 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at GSU in the most recent year we have data available.

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

16
42 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In TN
#6 Best Quality In TN

UofM is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Memphis. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #6 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Tennessee.

There were roughly 42 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies individuals who graduated with this degree at UofM in the most recent year we have data available.

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

16
Belmont crest
Belmont University
Nashville, TN
42 Annual Master's Degrees
#2 Most Popular In TN
#2 Best Quality In TN

Belmont is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Nashville. This isn't the only ranking where the school placed. It's also #2 in quality for master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in Tennessee.

There were roughly 42 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Belmont in the most recent data year.

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

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
18 University of Georgia Athens, GA
18 University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS
20 Georgia State University Atlanta, GA
20 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
22 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
22 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
24 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC
24 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, GA
24 Troy University Troy, AL

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

Explore the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies colleges for a specific state in the Southeast Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Florida 34 461
Mississippi 33 133
Georgia 32 239
Tennessee 32 287
Kentucky 31 193
Virginia 31 354
North Carolina 30 217
Alabama 30 146
Louisiana 30 125
South Carolina 30 180
Arkansas 30 248
West Virginia 27 165

View All Rankings >

Parks & Rec Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Health & Physical Education 2,640
Recreation Administration 221
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 15
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 9

Related Major Annual Graduates
Public Administration & Social Service 8,585
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting 3,330
Legal Professions 1,565
Military Technologies & Applied Sciences 368

Notes and References

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