2025 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Region

1

University of Georgia
Athens, GA

It is hard to beat University of Georgia if you want to pursue a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. UGA is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Athens. A Best Colleges rank of #69 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UGA is a great university overall.

There were roughly 358 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UGA in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, parks & rec degree recipients typically make an average of $36,019 in their early careers.

2

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the small city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public university with a fairly 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 about 371 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UNC Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks & rec degree recipients usually make an average of $32,424 at the beginning of their careers.

3

University of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida is a great option for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. UF is a very large public university located in the city of Gainesville. A Best Colleges rank of #56 out of 2,152 schools 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 program at University of Florida earn $8,567 above the standard college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

4

James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the small city of Harrisonburg, JMU is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #141 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means JMU is a great university overall.

There were about 268 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at JMU in the most recent year we have data available. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies degree recipients from James Madison University earn a boost of around $3,625 over the typical income of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies majors.

5

Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Located in the midsize suburb of Clemson, Clemson is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #149 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Clemson is a great university overall.

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 report average early career earnings of $35,318.

6

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Knoxville, TN

UT Knoxville is a very large public university located in the city of Knoxville. This university ranks 2nd out of 41 schools for overall quality in the state of Tennessee.

There were about 410 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UT Knoxville 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 $30,856.

7

University of South Carolina - Columbia
Columbia, SC

Located in the city of Columbia, UofSC is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #99 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UofSC is a great university overall.

There were about 341 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UofSC in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies program at University of South Carolina - Columbia get $5,275 above the typical graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

8

Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Located in the large city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #76 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Wake Forest University is a great university overall.

There were roughly 83 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University 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 $21,192.

9

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC

Located in the city of Raleigh, NC State is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #122 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means NC State is a great university overall.

There were about 252 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at NC State in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies degree recipients from North Carolina State University receive an earnings boost of around $2,685 above the average income of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates.

10

Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #123 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a great university overall.

There were roughly 150 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, parks & rec degree recipients typically earn about $28,660 in the first five years of their career.

11

Emory University
Atlanta, GA

Emory is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Atlanta. A Best Colleges rank of #31 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Emory is a great university overall.

There were about 90 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Emory in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies major at Emory University get $3,480 above the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

12

Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Tallahassee. A Best Colleges rank of #117 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Florida State is a great university overall.

There were about 261 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Florida State in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the parks & rec program state that they receive average early career wages of $33,288.

13

Elon University
Elon, NC

Elon is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the medium-sized suburb of Elon. This university ranks 5th out of 93 schools for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.

There were about 108 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Elon in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program earn around $21,440 in the first couple years of working.

14

American Public University System
Charles Town, WV

American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit university located in the fringe town of Charles Town. This university ranks 1st out of 25 schools for overall quality in the state of West Virginia.

There were roughly 698 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at American Military University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies degree recipients from American Public University System earn a boost of approximately $19,931 over the average earnings of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies majors.

15

Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS

Mississippi State is a fairly large public university located in the town of Mississippi State. This university ranks 2nd out of 24 colleges for overall quality in the state of Mississippi.

There were approximately 283 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Mississippi State in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make an average of $30,711 in the first couple years of their career.

16

Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA

GaSou is a fairly large public university located in the town of Statesboro. This university ranks 16th out of 68 schools for overall quality in the state of Georgia.

There were roughly 388 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at GaSou in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program earn around $33,290 for their early career.

17

Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Lynchburg. This university ranks 11th out of 57 colleges for overall quality in the state of Virginia.

There were roughly 386 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent year we have data available. Those parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who get their degree from Liberty University earn $2,171 more than the average parks & rec grad.

18

University of Mississippi
University, MS

Located in the town of University, Ole Miss is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 24 colleges for overall quality in the state of Mississippi.

There were about 199 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Ole Miss in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the parks & rec program earn an average of $22,796 in their early career salary.

19

University of Louisville
Louisville, KY

UofL is a fairly large public university located in the city of Louisville. This university ranks 2nd out of 39 schools for overall quality in the state of Kentucky.

There were roughly 284 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UofL in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the parks & rec program report average early career wages of $34,441.

20

University of Memphis
Memphis, TN

Located in the large city of Memphis, UofM is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 12th out of 41 schools for overall quality in the state of Tennessee.

There were approximately 494 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UofM in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, parks & rec degree recipients generally make an average of $33,207 at the beginning of their careers.

21

University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

UARK is a very large public university located in the city of Fayetteville. This university ranks 1st out of 36 schools for overall quality in the state of Arkansas.

There were roughly 241 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UARK in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make around $31,968 for their early career.

22

Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC

The Citadel is a small public college located in the midsize city of Charleston. This college ranks 4th out of 45 schools for overall quality in the state of South Carolina.

There were roughly 57 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at The Citadel in the most recent data year. Those parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who get their degree from Citadel Military College of South Carolina receive $9,042 more than the typical parks & rec graduate.

23

William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA

William & Mary is a medium-sized public school located in the small suburb of Williamsburg. A Best Colleges rank of #103 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means William & Mary is a great school overall.

There were approximately 112 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at William & Mary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program earn around $27,114 for their early career.

24

Appalachian State University
Boone, NC

Appalachian State is a fairly large public university located in the town of Boone. This university ranks 11th out of 93 colleges for overall quality in the state of North Carolina.

There were roughly 405 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Appalachian State in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program earn around $27,464 in the first couple years of working.

25

Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY

WKU is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Bowling Green. This university ranks 6th out of 39 colleges for overall quality in the state of Kentucky.

There were approximately 193 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at WKU 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 $35,694.