by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study parks, recreation, and leisure studies. at the Bachelor’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 47 programs ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies., using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Explore the leading parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans below:
Leading the list is East Carolina University, our #1 parks, recreation, and leisure studies. college for veterans. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at East Carolina University
San Diego State University is a great choice for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies., landing the #2 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 87.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at San Diego State University
Veteran students seeking a strong parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program will find one at California State University-Long Beach, which ranked #3. It scores 86.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies. at California State University-Long Beach
Veteran students seeking a strong parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program will find one at Winona State University, which ranked #4. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at Winona State University
University of Arkansas came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 85.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at University of Arkansas
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies.. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo scores 84.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies. at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Ohio University-Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Northern Iowa came in at #8 for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure studies. students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 82.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for University of Northern Iowa
University of Minnesota-Duluth ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. University of Minnesota-Duluth scores 81.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for University of Minnesota-Duluth
Georgia Southern University placed #10 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 81.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies. at Georgia Southern University
University of Iowa landed the #11 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies.. It scores 81.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at University of Iowa
California State University-Sacramento ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 80.7 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for California State University-Sacramento
Oregon State University placed #13 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 80.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for Oregon State University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania placed #14 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus landed the #15 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies.. The school's overall veterans score is 80.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Jacksonville State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. Jacksonville State University scores 80.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies. at Jacksonville State University
University of Missouri-Columbia landed the #17 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies.. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies. at University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Nebraska at Kearney placed #18 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 78.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies. at University of Nebraska at Kearney
San Francisco State University landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies.. The school's overall veterans score is 78.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for San Francisco State University
Radford University placed #20 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 78.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at Radford University
University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #21 for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure studies. students this year. It scores 77.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Indiana University-Bloomington landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies.. The school's overall veterans score is 77.2 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies. at Indiana University-Bloomington
Northern Arizona University placed #23 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 77.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at Northern Arizona University
California State University-Fresno placed #24 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. California State University-Fresno scores 76.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies. at California State University-Fresno
Arizona State University Campus Immersion ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans. It scores 76.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Not far behind, these parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying parks, recreation, and leisure studies.: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
