2025 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
517
Colleges in the United States
72,741
Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$34,494
Avg Early-Career Salary
If you plan on majoring in
parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies, you won't be alone since the degree program is ranked #15 in the country in terms of popularity. As a result, there are many college that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.
For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 517 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students pursuing a degree. Combined, these schools handed out 72,741 degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School
The parks & rec program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies rankings. For our Best Overall Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Rankings by Degree Level
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 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools list to help you make the college decision.
If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.
Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the United States
The schools below may not offer all types of parks & rec degrees so you may want to filter by degree level first. However, they are great for the degree levels they do offer. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
25 Top Schools in Parks & Rec
Any student who is interested in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies needs to look into University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #22 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means U-M is a great university overall.
There were roughly 310 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at U-M in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies degree program at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor earn $8,775 above the average college grad in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Every student who is interested in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies needs to check out Texas A&M University - College Station. Texas A&M College Station is a very large public university located in the midsize city of College Station. A Best Colleges rank of #42 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Texas A&M College Station is a great university overall.
There were about 607 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas A&M College Station in the most recent data year. Those parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who get their degree from Texas A&M University - College Station make $4,652 more than the typical parks & rec student.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Texas A&M University - College Station
Every student pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies needs to check out The University of Texas at Austin. UT Austin is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Austin. A Best Colleges rank of #46 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UT Austin is a great university overall.
There were roughly 307 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UT Austin in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the parks & rec program report average early career wages of $35,583.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from The University of Texas at Austin
It is difficult to beat University of Iowa if you want to pursue a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the city of Iowa City, Iowa is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 37 colleges for overall quality in the state of Iowa.
There were roughly 624 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Iowa in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make about $32,533 for their early career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Iowa
Located in the small city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #30 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means IU Bloomington is a great university overall.
There were approximately 579 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at IU Bloomington in the most recent year we have data available. Those parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who get their degree from Indiana University - Bloomington earn $2,031 more than the typical parks & rec grad.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Indiana University - Bloomington
Located in the large city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 91 schools for overall quality in the state of Ohio.
There were roughly 243.99999999999997 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State in the most recent year we have data available. Those parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who get their degree from Ohio State University - Main Campus receive $3,518 more than the average parks & rec student.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Ohio State University - Main Campus
UW - Madison is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Madison. A Best Colleges rank of #40 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UW - Madison is a great university overall.
There were about 207 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UW - Madison in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the parks & rec program report average early career income of $29,866.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Wisconsin - Madison
Located in the city of Tempe, ASU - Tempe is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 26 schools for overall quality in the state of Arizona.
There were about 379 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at ASU - Tempe in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make an average of $33,256 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Arizona State University - Tempe
Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University - Oxford is a public university with a large student population. This university ranks 5th out of 91 colleges for overall quality in the state of Ohio.
There were approximately 320 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Miami University - Oxford in the most recent year we have data available. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies degree recipients from Miami University - Oxford get an earnings boost of approximately $6,551 above the typical earnings of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies majors.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Miami University - Oxford
Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers New Brunswick is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 45 schools for overall quality in the state of New Jersey.
There were approximately 396 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Rutgers New Brunswick in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the parks & rec program state that they receive average early career earnings of $30,252.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Temple is a very large public university located in the large city of Philadelphia. This university ranks 8th out of 103 schools for overall quality in the state of Pennsylvania.
There were approximately 291 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Temple in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make around $31,658 in their early career salary.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Temple University
Located in the midsize city of Syracuse, Syracuse is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #62 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Syracuse is a great university overall.
There were approximately 147 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Syracuse in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the parks & rec program state that they receive average early career income of $34,821.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Syracuse University
UIUC is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Champaign. A Best Colleges rank of #41 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UIUC is a great university overall.
There were roughly 329 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent year we have data available. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies degree recipients from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign get an earnings boost of around $2,418 above the typical income of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies majors.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
UGA is a fairly large public university located in the city of Athens. This university ranks 3rd out of 68 colleges for overall quality in the state of Georgia.
There were about 358 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UGA in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, parks & rec degree recipients generally earn an average of $36,019 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Georgia
Located in the large suburb of College Park, UMCP is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #37 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UMCP is a great university overall.
There were approximately 208 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UMCP in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, parks & rec degree recipients typically earn an average of $31,403 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Maryland - College Park
Located in the small city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #38 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UNC Chapel Hill is a great university overall.
There were roughly 371 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UNC Chapel Hill in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, parks & rec degree recipients generally earn about $32,424 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
UF is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Gainesville. A Best Colleges rank of #56 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UF is a great university overall.
There were roughly 430 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UF in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies degree program at University of Florida get $8,567 above the standard college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Florida
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
3rd
Most Popular In WI
119
Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
Located in the small city of Waukesha, Carroll U is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. This university ranks 15th out of 46 schools for overall quality in the state of Wisconsin.
There were approximately 119 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Carroll U in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Carroll University
Michigan State is a very large public university located in the city of East Lansing. A Best Colleges rank of #54 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Michigan State is a great university overall.
There were approximately 355 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, parks & rec degree recipients usually make about $31,194 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Michigan State University
Located in the small city of Harrisonburg, JMU is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 7th out of 57 schools for overall quality in the state of Virginia.
There were approximately 268 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at JMU in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies degree recipients from James Madison University receive an earnings boost of about $3,625 above the average income of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies majors.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from James Madison University
Located in the large suburb of Newark, UD is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 3 schools for overall quality in the state of Delaware.
There were about 211 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UD in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the parks & rec program report average early career earnings of $26,555.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Delaware
UMN Twin Cities is a very large public university located in the city of Minneapolis. A Best Colleges rank of #45 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UMN Twin Cities is a great university overall.
There were approximately 108 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UMN Twin Cities in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make around $36,040 for their early career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
3rd
Most Popular In MO
99
Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
Located in the large city of Saint Louis, SLU is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. This university ranks 4th out of 48 colleges for overall quality in the state of Missouri.
There were approximately 99 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at SLU in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Saint Louis University
Located in the town of Cortland, SUNY Cortland is a public school with a moderately-sized student population. This school ranks 25th out of 136 colleges for overall quality in the state of New York.
There were roughly 319 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at SUNY Cortland in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the parks & rec program earn around $32,153 for their early career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from SUNY Cortland
Located in the medium-sized suburb of Clemson, Clemson is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 2nd out of 45 colleges for overall quality in the state of South Carolina.
There were roughly 207 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Clemson in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the parks & rec program state that they receive average early career earnings of $35,318.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Clemson University