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2025 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama

11 Colleges in Alabama
902 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.

In 2025, College Factual analyzed 11 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 902 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

Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama 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

Bachelor's Degrees in Parks & Rec
Master's Degrees in Parks & Rec
Doctor's Degrees in Parks & Rec

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Alabama list, to help you choose the best school for you. 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 Alabama

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.

10 Top Alabama Schools in Parks & Rec

1
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
115 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$29,230 Median Starting Salary

University of North Alabama is a wonderful option for students interested in a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the small city of Florence, UNA is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #1168 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UNA is a great university overall.

There were about 115 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UNA in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program earn an average of $29,230 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of North Alabama

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
43 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$60,126 Median Starting Salary

It's hard to beat United States Sports Academy if you want to pursue a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the city of Daphne, The Academy is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

There were about 43 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at The Academy in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies degree program at United States Sports Academy make $25,632 above the average college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from United States Sports Academy

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
109 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$41,289 Median Starting Salary

It is difficult to beat Troy University if you wish to pursue a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the remote town of Troy, TROY is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #1410 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means TROY is a great university overall.

There were about 109 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at TROY in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies degree recipients from Troy University earn a boost of around $6,795 above the average income of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Troy University

4
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
36 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$27,788 Median Starting Salary

University of Alabama in Huntsville is a good choice for students interested in a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. UAH is a moderately-sized public university located in the medium-sized city of Huntsville. A Best Colleges rank of #935 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UAH is a great university overall.

There were about 36 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at UAH in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make an average of $27,788 for their early career.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Alabama in Huntsville

5
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
46 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$31,303 Median Starting Salary

Jacksonville State University is a moderately-sized public university located in the suburb of Jacksonville. A Best Colleges rank of #1442 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Jacksonville State University is a great university overall.

There were approximately 46 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Jacksonville State 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 wages of $31,303.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Jacksonville State University

6
Huntingdon College crest
Huntingdon College
Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
38 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$28,469 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Montgomery, Huntingdon College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 36th out of 42 colleges for overall quality in the state of Alabama.

There were roughly 38 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Huntingdon College in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make an average of $28,469 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Huntingdon College

7
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
43 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
2.3% Growth in Graduates

Located in the town of Montevallo, Montevallo is a public university with a small student population. This university ranks 33rd out of 42 schools for overall quality in the state of Alabama.

There were approximately 43 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Montevallo in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduating, parks & rec degree recipients typically make about $30,250 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Montevallo

8
Bachelor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$26,785 Median Starting Salary

University of Mobile is a small private not-for-profit university located in the rural area of Mobile. This university ranks 35th out of 42 schools for overall quality in the state of Alabama.

There were approximately 15 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University of Mobile in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the parks & rec program report average early career income of $26,785.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Mobile

9
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
54 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
24.1% Growth in Graduates

Located in the medium-sized city of Mobile, USA is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #737 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means USA is a great university overall.

There were approximately 54 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at USA in the most recent data year. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program earn an average of $33,557 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of South Alabama

10
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
56 Parks & Rec Degrees Awarded
$44,443 Median Starting Salary

AUM is a moderately-sized public university located in the midsize city of Montgomery. This university ranks 41st out of 42 colleges for overall quality in the state of Alabama.

There were roughly 56 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at AUM in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies program at Auburn University at Montgomery make $9,948 above the typical college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Auburn University at Montgomery

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

Explore all the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 38 3,418
West Virginia 38 1,226
Mississippi 38 1,121
South Carolina 38 1,336
Florida 38 2,335
Virginia 38 1,717
Arkansas 38 1,012
Kentucky 37 1,091
Georgia 37 1,977
Tennessee 37 2,459
Louisiana 37 703

View All Rankings >

Parks & Rec Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Health & Physical Education 795
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 64
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 36
Recreation Administration 7

View All Parks & Rec Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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