by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
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.
Across the Southwest region, there were 10,228 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,393 and $22,734 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 151 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region parks & rec students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Texas State University. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region. Located in San Marcos, Texas, this large public school awarded 627 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full Texas State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 151 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 646 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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 Texas A&M College Station
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas at San Antonio. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. UTSA is a large school located in San Antonio, Texas that handed out 506 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UTSA Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Houston. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 490 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UH Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This large school is located in Edinburg, Texas, and it awarded 394 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UT Rio Grande Valley
With a ranking of #6, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 391 ’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 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at ASU - Tempe
University of North Texas landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Denton, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 374 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UNT
The University of Texas at Austin came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 313 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. 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%.
Tarleton State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Tarleton is a public institution located in Stephenville, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 289 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Tarleton Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Grand Canyon University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and it awarded 265 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grand Canyon University
The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #11. UT Arlington is a large school located in Arlington, Texas that handed out 253 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% 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%.
Full The University of Texas at Arlington Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
The University of Texas at El Paso came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. The University of Texas at El Paso is a large public school situated in El Paso, Texas. It awarded 209 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UTEP
With a ranking of #13, Southeastern Oklahoma State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Durant, Oklahoma, and it awarded 187 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Northern Arizona University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, this large public school handed out 188 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Northern Arizona University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Stephen F Austin State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #15. This fairly large school is located in Nacogdoches, Texas, and it awarded 178 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Stephen F Austin State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #16, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. University of Oklahoma is a large school located in Norman, Oklahoma that handed out 173 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Texas Woman’s University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Denton, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 159 students in 2020-2021.
Full Texas Woman’s University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Sam Houston State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. SHSU is a public institution located in Huntsville, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 158 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Sam Houston State University
Baylor University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Baylor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Waco, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 147 ’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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full Baylor University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Bryan University ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Bryan University is a small school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 329 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Bryan University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This fairly large school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 144 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University - Commerce ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Commerce, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 132 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas A&M University - Commerce
Oklahoma State University - Main Campus came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 131 ’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 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Angelo State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #24. Angelo State is a fairly large school located in San Angelo, Texas that handed out 123 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Angelo State University
The University of Texas at Tyler landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Tyler, Texas, this medium-sized public school handed out 116 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UT Tyler Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 116 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Texas Tech University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Read more about our data sources and methodologies