2023 Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
159
Ranked Colleges
3,106
Degrees Awarded
$26,300
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 “Most Well Attended 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.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major” ranking, we looked at 159 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. To top this list, a school must have a successful parks, recreation and leisure studies program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
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 “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major”.
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.
Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major
The colleges and universities below are the best for parks & rec students.
Top 25 Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 160 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at IU Bloomington
Out of the 159 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 142 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 119 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. Mizzou is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 116 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full Mizzou Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 110 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at BYU
California State University - Sacramento ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. California State University - Sacramento is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 100 ’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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Sac State
With a ranking of #7, California State University - Chico did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. 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 Chico State
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. Kutztown University is a public institution located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
California State University - Long Beach came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. CSULB is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 91 ’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 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at CSULB
University of Arkansas landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. UARK is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 77 ’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 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UARK
University of Utah landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. This large school is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it awarded 76 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 U of U
University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 64 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of Nebraska at Kearney came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 60 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNK
With a ranking of #13, University of Northern Iowa did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 60 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Northern Iowa
Northern Arizona University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, this large public school awarded 59 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northern Arizona University
University of Iowa landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. Iowa is a large public school situated in Iowa City, Iowa. It awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Iowa Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Georgia Southern University ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. Georgia Southern University is located in Statesboro, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 51 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Georgia Southern University
Western Washington University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. Western Washington University is a fairly large public school situated in Bellingham, Washington. It awarded 48 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Western Washington University
San Francisco State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 46 ’s parks and rec degrees 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 SFSU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Bowling Green State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #20. Bowling Green State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Bowling Green, Ohio. It awarded 45 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Bowling Green State University - Main Campus
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Carbondale, Illinois, this fairly large public school handed out 44 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Radford University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. Radford University is a medium-sized school located in Radford, Virginia that handed out 41 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Radford University
With a ranking of #23, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. San Jose State is located in San Jose, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at San Jose State
East Carolina University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major ranking. Greenville, North Carolina 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.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at ECU
With a ranking of #24, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major list. Fresno State is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 37 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Fresno State
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