by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.
Across Michigan, there were 2,286 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,378 and $25,970 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan” ranking, we looked at 43 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. That schools that top this list have a program in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Adrian College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Located in Adrian, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 62 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Adrian College
Out of the 43 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Olivet College landed the #2 spot on the list. Olivet College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Olivet, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Olivet College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Superior State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Lake Superior State University is a small school located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan that handed out 41 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Lake Superior State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Ann Arbor. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 16 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Ann Arbor
Out of the 43 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Albion College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Albion, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Albion
Central Michigan University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Mount Pleasant, Michigan is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 292 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Michigan
Cornerstone University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. This small school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 26 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Cornerstone Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Grand Valley State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Grand Valley State University is a large school located in Allendale, Michigan that handed out 290 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full GVSU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Hope College ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. This small school is located in Holland, Michigan, and it awarded 36 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Hope Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #10, Aquinas College Michigan did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. This small school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 16 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Aquinas College Michigan Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northern Michigan University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Northern Michigan University is located in Marquette, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 65 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northern Michigan University
With a ranking of #12, Hillsdale College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. This small school is located in Hillsdale, Michigan, and it awarded 15 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hillsdale College
With a ranking of #13, Rochester University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. RU is a small school located in Rochester Hills, Michigan that handed out 8 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Rochester University
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking, coming in at #14. Located in East Lansing, Michigan, this large public school handed out 442 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan State University
Calvin University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Calvin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 34 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Calvin
Gogebic Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Ironwood, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
Full Gogebic Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Western Michigan University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 137 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Eastern Michigan University is a fairly large school located in Ypsilanti, Michigan that handed out 114 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Eastern Michigan University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. This medium-sized school is located in University Center, Michigan, and it awarded 43 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Saginaw Valley State University
Davenport University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking, coming in at #20. Davenport University is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Davenport University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northwood University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Northwood University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Midland, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwood
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking, coming in at #22. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 326 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
With a ranking of #23, Spring Arbor University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Spring Arbor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spring Arbor, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Spring Arbor University
Wayne State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 94 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Wayne State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #25, Siena Heights University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Located in Adrian, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Siena Heights University
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
