by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 218th most popular major in the country with 3,106 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking looked at 159 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation and leisure studies. That schools that top this list have a program in parks, recreation and leisure studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Wesleyan University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. VWU is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Out of the 159 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferrum College landed the #2 spot on the list. Ferrum, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Ferrum College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Colorado University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Gunnison, Colorado is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 31 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Western
Out of the 159 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Alaska Pacific University landed the #4 spot on the list. Alaska Pacific University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Anchorage, Alaska. It awarded 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Alaska Pacific Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 95 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Paul Smiths, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
Full Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Garrett College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #7. Garrett Community College is a small public school situated in McHenry, Maryland. It awarded 5 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Garrett Community College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Shepherd University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Shepherd University is a public institution located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Shepherd University
University of Nebraska at Kearney ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. University of Nebraska at Kearney is a public institution located in Kearney, Nebraska. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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%.
Gallaudet University ranked #10 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Gallaudet University is a small school located in Washington, District of Columbia that handed out 14 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Gallaudet University
With a ranking of #11, Houghton College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Houghton, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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 1.9% 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 Studies at Houghton
Mars Hill University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #12. Mars Hill, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 9 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.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Mars Hill University
Grambling State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Grambling, Louisiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Grambling State University
With a ranking of #14, Shaw University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 6 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Shaw University
With a ranking of #15, Central State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Central State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Wilberforce, Ohio. It awarded 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Central State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Butler County Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Butler, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #17, Gordon College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This small school is located in Wenham, Massachusetts, and it awarded 13 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%. 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.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Gordon College
Newberry College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Newberry, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Newberry College
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #19. California State University - Chico is a fairly large public school situated in Chico, California. It awarded 99 ’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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Chico
Southern Oregon University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Southern Oregon University is located in Ashland, Oregon and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Southern Oregon University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #21. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a large school located in San Luis Obispo, California that handed out 119 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
University of Northern Iowa ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 60 ’s parks and rec 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Northern Iowa
With a ranking of #23, Radford University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Radford, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Radford University
Winona State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #24. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Winona State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Jacksonville State University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Jacksonville State University is a public institution located in Jacksonville, Alabama. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Jacksonville State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
