2023 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in California
24
Ranked Colleges
678
Degrees Awarded
$26,500
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 in California” ranking - to help you make that decision.
In 2020-2021, 3,106 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 218th most popular in the United States.
Across California, there were 678 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in parks, recreation and leisure studies.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.
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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California
The colleges and universities below are the best for california parks & rec students.
Top 24 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in California
Out of the 24 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Chico landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school handed out 99 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Chico
Out of the 24 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #2 spot on the list. Cal Poly 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.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Out of the 24 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Humboldt State University landed the #3 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Arcata, California, and it awarded 31 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Humboldt State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lake Tahoe Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California. This small school is located in South Lake Tahoe, California, and it awarded 3 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Lake Tahoe Community College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Sacramento. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. California State University - Sacramento is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 100 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, 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 - Sacramento
Feather River Community College District ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Feather River Community College District is a small public school situated in Quincy, California. It awarded 3 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Feather River College
California State University - Long Beach landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 91 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at CSULB
With a ranking of #8, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full California State University - Fresno Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
San Francisco State University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Located in San Francisco, California, this large public school awarded 46 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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%.
Full San Francisco State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
California State University - East Bay came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Cal State East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.
Full California State University - East Bay Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
With a ranking of #11, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. San Jose State University is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 40 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 San Jose State Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
San Diego State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. SDSU is located in San Diego, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at San Diego State University
Sierra College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #13. Sierra College is a public institution located in Rocklin, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Sierra College
With a ranking of #14, Allan Hancock College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Located in Santa Maria, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full Allan Hancock College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Fresno City College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Fresno City College is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Fresno City College
American River College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Sacramento, California, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at American River
El Camino College ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Torrance, California, and it awarded 2 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at El Camino College
College of the Canyons ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at College of the Canyons
Cuesta College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #19. Cuesta College is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Cuesta College
California State University - Northridge landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school awarded 1 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at CSUN
Palomar College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. San Marcos, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Palomar College
College of the Desert landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Located in Palm Desert, California, this fairly large public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at College of the Desert
With a ranking of #21, Simpson University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Simpson University is a small school located in Redding, California that handed out 1 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Simpson U
California State University - Dominguez Hills came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at CSUDH
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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