by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 101 U.S. colleges awarded 2,266 degrees and certificates in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 79% of graduates. College Factual ranks 54 schools in its 2027 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,839 one year after completing, rising to $52,448 after four years.
Who doesn't look forward to long summer days or lazy weekends when you can relax in a park, participate in athletic competitions, or hang around by a pool? If you're interested in helping the public enjoy relaxing activities and lead healthy lifestyles, consider majoring in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies.
In this major you will take classes in administration, sociology, business, physical education, tourism and travel, therapeutic recreation, and sports science to learn how to develop recreation programs, customize activities for disabled children and adults, handle budgets, and oversee parks or recreation centers' operations. This degree allows students to work closely with the general public while overseeing employees in a relaxed environment.
A degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies explores Parks, Recreation, And Leisure Studies.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., parks, recreation & leisure studies is a popular field of study, with 2,266 degrees awarded annually. 101 colleges award parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees, an average of 22 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 148.
By level, the 2,266 awards include 19 certificates, 161 associate degrees, 1,793 bachelor’s degrees, 278 master’s degrees and 15 doctorates.
Women earned 54% of parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,213 of 2,266). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,506) and Hispanic or Latino (297), and international students earned 65.
College Factual ranks 54 schools in its 2027 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking, including 47 for bachelor’s degrees and 4 for master’s degrees. It also ranks parks, recreation & leisure studies schools within 25 states. In all, 101 colleges offer parks, recreation & leisure studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common parks, recreation & leisure studies credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,793 of the 2,266 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to parks, recreation & leisure studies call most for Speaking, Instructing and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Written Expression.
Students pursuing a degree in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies should have good communication and interpersonal skills. Professionals will often work with both the general public and employees, making the ability to communicate effectively and provide good customer service necessary. Students should also have good organization skills to coordinate activity schedules and ensure all daily operations are taken care of.
Depending on the job, professionals may be employed either seasonally or full time. Directors are often employed full time and work on administration tasks during the off-season, while workers, such as counselors, may only be seasonally employed. During busy times, both workers and upper level staff can expect to work long and sometimes irregular hours. Professionals typically split their time between the office and working with customers participating in programs or events.
Summer jobs as camp counselors or working at recreation centers will give students experience within the field. While this is not necessary, these jobs will give students the opportunity to decide if they enjoy working in the parks, recreation, and leisure industry.
While an associate's degree will allow graduates to work in the field, those who pursue a bachelor's degree will have better job opportunities and are more likely to advance to positions of management.
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How long a parks, recreation & leisure studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 19 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 161 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,793 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 278 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 15 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to parks, recreation & leisure studies, at 74.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 74.2% |
| Master’s degree | 20.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies, with an average median salary of $84,688; the strongest outlook belongs to Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, at 11.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Recreation Teacher, Recreation Professor, Wellness Instructor and Adjunct Instructor.
Due to the increasing amount of park, recreational, and leisure activities available to the general public, there are many job opportunities available as well. Graduates have gone to work at recreation centers, national parks, cruise ships, summer camps, and other fields that support exercise and healthy living.
With the field growing at an average rate, graduates should be able to find jobs after graduation. Jobs may be more readily available in different areas of the country, giving those who are willing to move better opportunities.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to parks, recreation & leisure studies, at 596,959.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 596,959 | 11.6% |
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates earn a median $34,839 one year after completing their program, $52,448 after four years and $52,449 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,839 |
| 4 years | $52,448 |
| 5 years | $52,449 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to parks, recreation & leisure studies, with a median salary of $84,688.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,688 |
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies (2,266). It has 4 similar majors in the Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness field, which together award 70,915 degrees a year; the largest are Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (68,170), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management (2,358) and Outdoor Education (229). Browse all Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 2,266 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 68,170 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 2,358 |
| Outdoor Education | 229 |
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other | 158 |
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