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 Master’s Degree level, you’ve come to the right place. We have ranked 6 schools that stand out for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure studies. students, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs 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 reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Explore the leading parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veterans below:
Our analysis ranked University of Toledo the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, and leisure studies.. It scores 80.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at University of Toledo
State University of New York at Cortland is a great choice for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies., landing the #2 spot this year. It scores 77.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at State University of New York at Cortland
Veteran students seeking a strong parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program will find one at Indiana University-Bloomington, which ranked #3. It scores 77.2 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 Indiana University-Bloomington
A rank of #4 makes University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign one of the top parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veteran students. It scores 75.4 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 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
A rank of #5 makes Northwest Missouri State University one of the top parks, recreation, and leisure studies. colleges for veteran students. Northwest Missouri State University scores 74.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies. program at Northwest Missouri State University
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale landed the #6 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies.. It scores 74.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies. report for Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
*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.
