College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Missouri

32 Ranked Colleges
1,355 Degrees Awarded
$24,100 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 Missouri” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. 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 Missouri, there were 1,355 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,909 and $24,765 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri” ranking looked at 32 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Parks & Rec Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri

The colleges and universities below are the best for missouri parks & rec students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Missouri

1
Logan University crest
Logan University
Chesterfield, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Logan University. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri. Logan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chesterfield, Missouri. The school has a small population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Logan University

2
Missouri Valley College crest
Missouri Valley College
Marshall, Missouri

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri Valley College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. Marshall, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.

Full Missouri Valley College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

3

Out of the 32 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri that were part of this year’s ranking, Westminster College Missouri landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Fulton, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 18 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Westminster College Missouri

4
Missouri Western crest
Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri Western State University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri. Missouri Western State University is located in Saint Joseph, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 72 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Missouri Western State University

5
Culver - Stockton crest
Culver - Stockton College
Canton, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Culver - Stockton College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri. Culver - Stockton is located in Canton, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Culver - Stockton

6

Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri ranking. Central Methodist University - College of Liberal Arts & Sciences is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fayette, Missouri. It awarded 17 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at CMU CLAS

7
Truman State crest
Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Truman State University ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. Truman State is a small public school situated in Kirksville, Missouri. It awarded 92 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 Truman State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

8
Avila crest
Avila University
Kansas City, Missouri

Avila University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri ranking, coming in at #8. Avila University is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 29 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Avila

9

With a ranking of #9, Hannibal - LaGrange University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. Located in Hannibal, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full HLGU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

10
MBU crest
Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, Missouri

Missouri Baptist University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. Missouri Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 50 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at MBU

11
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, Missouri

With a ranking of #11, Lindenwood University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Charles, Missouri, and it awarded 128 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lindenwood University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

12

Southwest Baptist University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri ranking. Southwest Baptist University is located in Bolivar, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full Southwest Baptist University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

13
SLU crest
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #13, Saint Louis University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 120 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SLU

14
UCM crest
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Missouri

University of Central Missouri did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri ranking, coming in at #14. UCM is located in Warrensburg, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 108 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UCM

15

Northwest Missouri State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri ranking. Northwest Missouri State University is a medium-sized school located in Maryville, Missouri that handed out 52 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Northwest Missouri State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

16

Missouri State University - Springfield landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri ranking. Missouri State University - Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 149 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Missouri State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

17

Missouri Southern State University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri ranking. Located in Joplin, Missouri, this small public school awarded 40 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Missouri Southern State University

18
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. Southeast Missouri State University is a public institution located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southeast Missouri State University

19

Maryville University of Saint Louis did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 49 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Maryville U

20
Fontbonne University crest
Fontbonne University
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #20, Fontbonne University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. Fontbonne University is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Fontbonne University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

21
Evangel crest
Evangel University
Springfield, Missouri

With a ranking of #21, Evangel University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Evangel University

22
William Woods crest
William Woods University
Fulton, Missouri

William Woods University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. William Woods University is located in Fulton, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at William Woods

23

With a ranking of #23, University of Missouri - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. Mizzou is a public institution located in Columbia, Missouri. The school has a large population, and it awarded 120 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mizzou

24
Hard Work U crest
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, Missouri

With a ranking of #24, College of the Ozarks did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri list. Point Lookout, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hard Work U

25

Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Missouri ranking. Located in Fayette, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Central Methodist University - College of Graduate & Extended Studies

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options