by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,391 U.S. colleges awarded 73,181 degrees and certificates in Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 74% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,037 schools in its 2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,317 one year after completing, rising to $55,653 after four years.
People who work hard also like to play hard. Students who study Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness learn how to provide fun and healthy experiences for busy individuals. If you enjoy the great outdoors, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and interacting with people this could be a great field for you.
While you may decide to major in General Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies, you also have the option to specialize in specific areas. Students interested in the business and administration side of recreation may be interested in Recreation Administration; those who seek to improve the health of others can pursue Health and Physical Education/Fitness; and those who have a passion for nature can major in Outdoor Education. Each of these majors allows for a career in a specific niche of recreation and leisure and gives professionals the ability to work closely with the general public.
Depending on the area of expertise you choose, you will take a variety of classes from business administration, marketing, and finance to environmental studies, kinesiology, nutrition, and physiology. No matter what you decide to specialize in, your major will prepare you for a rewarding career helping people get away from the stresses of everyday life.
A degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies covers Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Principles And Practices Of Managing Parks And Other Recreational And Fitness Facilities; Providing Recreational, Leisure And Fitness Services; And The Study Of Human Kinesiology And Fitness.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies is a widely-pursued major, with 73,181 degrees awarded annually. 1,391 colleges award parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies degrees, an average of 53 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 729.
By level, the 73,181 awards include 643 certificates, 6,217 associate degrees, 53,870 bachelor’s degrees, 11,902 master’s degrees and 390 doctorates.
Women earned 47% of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (34,266 of 73,181). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (39,827) and Hispanic or Latino (13,033), and international students earned 2,478.
College Factual ranks 1,037 schools in its 2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools ranking, including 168 for associate degrees, 811 for bachelor’s degrees, 272 for master’s degrees and 6 for doctorates. It also ranks parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies schools within 51 states. In all, 1,391 colleges offer parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 53,870 of the 73,181 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Students who receive degrees in the numerous Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies areas of specialization often work in careers that provide services to others. This places a strong emphasis on interpersonal and customer relation skills. You must be able to listen to what the customer wants help them find a service that fits their needs. Students in this field also have strong organizational skills as they are often working on multiple projects at once or need to lead multiple teams.
Many employers value work experience. Students should try to find work in their field of interest during summer breaks. This will allow you to better the intricacies of the field and move into higher positions of management.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 643 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6,217 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 53,870 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11,902 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 390 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies, at 34.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.4% |
| Master’s degree | 19.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.2% |
| Some college courses | 3.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies, with an average median salary of $85,305; the strongest outlook belongs to Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 11.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Athletic Instructor, Gymnasium Teacher, Fitness Instructor and Exercise Teacher.
There are many different career opportunities available to students who have a degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies. Some graduates go to work at gyms or recreation centers while other find jobs in national parks or resorts. There are a variety of recreation and leisure activities, which allows graduates to find many unique jobs working both indoors and outdoors.
The occupation related to parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies with the most projected jobs is Exercise Physiologists, at 1,771,772.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 1,771,772 | 1.7% |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 596,959 | 11.6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | 443,431 | 8.4% |
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| Coaches and Scouts | 332,603 | -0.5% |
| Athletic Trainers | 316,011 | -0.3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | 276,926 | 4.4% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies graduates earn a median $34,317 one year after completing their program, $55,653 after four years and $55,154 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,317 |
| 4 years | $55,653 |
| 5 years | $55,154 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies is Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling, with a median salary of $170,172.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $144,072 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,688 |
| Athletic Trainers | $79,834 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $78,709 |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies includes 5 concentrations that together award 73,181 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (68,170), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management (2,358) and Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies (2,266). Browse the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
