2025 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia
14
Colleges in Virginia
1,724
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.
College Factual looked at 14 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 1,724 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
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 Virginia 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 Virginia
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 Virginia Schools in Parks & Rec
Every student pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies has to take a look at James Madison University. 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 colleges 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 data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies degree recipients from James Madison University earn a boost of approximately $3,625 over the average income of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from James Madison University
It is hard to beat Liberty University if you want to pursue a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Liberty University is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Lynchburg. A Best Colleges rank of #265 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Liberty University is a great university overall.
There were roughly 386 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Those parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who get their degree from Liberty University make $2,171 more than the standard parks & rec student.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Liberty University
William & Mary is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. 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 about 112 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at William & Mary in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make an average of $27,114 for their early career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from William & Mary
George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #92 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means GMU is a great university overall.
There were approximately 128 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at GMU 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 $35,118.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from George Mason University
University of Virginia is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized suburb of Charlottesville. A Best Colleges rank of #35 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means University of Virginia is a great university overall.
There were about 121 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University of Virginia in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies major at University of Virginia - Main Campus make $18,519 more than 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 Virginia - Main Campus
Located in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. A Best Colleges rank of #337 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Shenandoah is a great university overall.
There were approximately 30 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Shenandoah in the most recent data year. Those parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who get their degree from Shenandoah University make $3,182 more than the average parks & rec graduate.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Shenandoah University
Old Dominion is a fairly large public university located in the city of Norfolk. A Best Colleges rank of #495 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Old Dominion is a great university overall.
There were about 152 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, parks & rec degree recipients typically make around $33,247 in the first five years of their career.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Old Dominion University
Roanoke is a small private not-for-profit college located in the medium-sized suburb of Salem. This college ranks 25th out of 57 schools for overall quality in the state of Virginia.
There were approximately 46 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Roanoke in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the parks & rec program make about $27,304 in the first couple years of working.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Roanoke College
Located in the distant town of Danville, AU is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. This university ranks 35th out of 57 schools for overall quality in the state of Virginia.
There were about 33 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at AU in the most recent year we have data available. Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies degree recipients from Averett University receive an earnings boost of around $2,414 above the average income of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Averett University
Located in the rural area of Emory, Emory & Henry College is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. This college ranks 42nd out of 57 schools for overall quality in the state of Virginia.
There were approximately 38 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Emory & Henry College in the most recent year we have data available. Soon after graduation, parks & rec degree recipients typically earn an average of $28,146 in their early careers.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Emory and Henry College
