by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you would like to work in a field that promotes exercise, leisure activities, and healthy living in a fun environment, consider majoring in Recreation Administration.
A career in Recreation Administration allows you to oversee the daily operations of recreational and leisure facilities, create programs, and take care of business administration tasks. To prepare for a career in this field, students take classes in topics such as business, finance, marketing, management, indoor and outdoor recreation and more.
Students have the ability to major in general Recreation Administration or can specialize in areas such as Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management.
In 2021-2022, recreation administration was the 163rd most popular major nationwide with 2,826 degrees awarded. Our 2025 Best Recreation Administration Schools ranking analyzes 51 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for recreation administration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of recreation admin programs later in this article.
Since students that go into Recreation Administration are responsible for many aspects of the business, it is important to be organized. This will be helpful when you need to handle multiple tasks and projects at one time. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are also required as you design programs, organize schedules for others and speak with clients and others that use your facility. These skills will also help you better serve customers and ensure you are providing them with the services they want. Students who pursue a degree in Recreation Administration often have a background in business.
Recreation Administration majors typically work in jobs that are full time. However, due to seasons, a job may be busier during certain times of the year, having an effect on work hours.
Summer jobs or internships in the recreation field will give students hands-on experience. It was also provide them with a background in recreation, so they can decide if this is a field they would like to pursue a career in.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most recreation admin degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional recreation admin certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are many different recreation admin degree levels. Recreation Administration programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest recreation admin degree you can get. Different recreation administration degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to recreation admin, with approximately 45.0% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to recreation admin tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 43.9% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 10.4% |
| Some College Courses | 9.3% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 9.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 9.0% |
63.4% of recreation admin workers have at least a bachelor's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in recreation administration have obtained.
This of course varies depending on which recreation admin career you choose.
A degree in Recreation Administration prepares graduates to pursue a job in a variety of locations. Graduates work for recreation centers, parks, cruise ships, gyms, and other facilities that provide recreation and leisure services to the general public. With the field growing at an average rate, students should have good opportunities finding jobs after graduation. Those with previous experience or who are willing to move will have a better chance of finding a well-paying job.
Want a job when you graduate with your recreation admin degree? Recreation Administration careers are expected to grow 8.9% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to recreation administration.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 2,468,300 | 9.1% |
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Supervisors | 198,600 | 11.4% |
Recently graduated recreation administration students earned an average of $33,189 in <nil>. Earnings can range from as low as $25,345 to as high as $47,041. As you might expect, salaries for recreation admin graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for recreation administration graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers recreation admin grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $123,880 |
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Supervisors | $51,280 |
With over 259 different recreation admin degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased recreation admin school rankings to help you with this.
Recreation Administration is one of 4 different types of Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management | 2,673 |
| Golf Course Operation & Grounds Management | 146 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management | 7 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 66,552 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 2,818 |
| Outdoor Education | 313 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 232 |
