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2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

27 Ranked Colleges
198 Degrees Awarded
$27,700 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master's

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is the 218th most popular major in the country with 3,106 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 198 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s” ranking looked at 27 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation and leisure studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular parks, recreation and leisure studies programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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.

Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s”.

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 41 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, 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 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UIUC

2
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. IU Bloomington is a large school located in Bloomington, Indiana that handed out 26 masters’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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at IU Bloomington

2

Out of the 27 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #2 spot on the list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 26 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

4
SUNY Cortland crest
SUNY Cortland
Cortland, New York

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend SUNY Cortland. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s. SUNY Cortland is a public institution located in Cortland, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full SUNY Cortland Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

5
University of Toledo crest
University of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Toledo. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. University of Toledo is located in Toledo, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Toledo

6
U of U crest
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

University of Utah did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #6. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 12 students 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, 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 Utah

7

California State University - Long Beach came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 9 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full California State University - Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

8

With a ranking of #8, Southern Oregon University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized public school situated in Ashland, Oregon. It awarded 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Southern Oregon University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

8
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. University of Northern Iowa is a medium-sized school located in Cedar Falls, Iowa that handed out 8 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 UNI

10

With a ranking of #10, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. OSU is a large school located in Stillwater, Oklahoma that handed out 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at OSU

10

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Athens, Ohio, and it awarded 7 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at OHIO Athens

12

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. ASU - Tempe is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 86%.

Full ASU - Tempe Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

13
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

With a ranking of #13, East Carolina University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. ECU is a large school located in Greenville, North Carolina that handed out 4 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at ECU

13

With a ranking of #13, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 4 masters’s parks and rec 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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Sac State

13

California State University - Chico came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in Chico, California, this fairly large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified masters’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 Chico State

16
NAU crest
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and it awarded 3 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northern Arizona University

17

Northwest Missouri State University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northwest

18
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

With a ranking of #18, San Jose State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. Located in San Jose, California, this large public school awarded 40 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full San Jose State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

18

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 masters’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 93%.

Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

18
Morgan State crest
Morgan State University
Baltimore, Maryland

With a ranking of #18, Morgan State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. Baltimore, Maryland is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Morgan State

18

Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 80 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 Texas A&M University - College Station Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

18

University of Maryland - College Park landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. UMCP is a large school located in College Park, Maryland that handed out 0 masters’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 95%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Maryland - College Park

18

California State University - Northridge did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #18. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 1 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%.

Full CSUN Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

18

Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 0 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full VCU Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

18
USD crest
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota

University of South Dakota ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s list. University of South Dakota is located in Vermillion, South Dakota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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 USD

18

Brigham Young University - Provo landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Provo, Utah, and it awarded 110 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at BYU

18
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #18. San Francisco State University is located in San Francisco, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 46 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SFSU

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References

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