Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their parks, recreation & leisure studies programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 54 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation & leisure studies students pursuing a degree.
Choosing a Great Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies School
The parks, recreation & leisure studies program you select can have a big impact on your future. To help, we created our Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Texas A And M University College Station is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 60 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $64,891 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at Texas A And M University College Station
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #2. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 106 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $39,157. Typical student debt for the program is $16,369.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
A rank of #3 makes San Diego State University one of the top schools for parks, recreation & leisure studies. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at San Diego State University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $33,692 early in their careers. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $14,999 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Indiana University Bloomington graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 117 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $39,038 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes California State University Sacramento one of the top schools for parks, recreation & leisure studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 58 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $40,338 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,024 to complete this degree.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for California State University Sacramento
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 148 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $41,234 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 21 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 96 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $38,725 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 11 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans.
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Brigham Young University Provo ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 81% of students finish within six years. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 141 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Brigham Young University Provo earn around $47,596 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 49 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $35,532 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans.
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California State University East Bay earned the #12 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University East Bay awarded about 13 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $43,700. Students borrow a median of $20,306 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California State University East Bay
California State University Fresno placed #13 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fresno awarded about 22 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $32,697. Typical student debt for the program is $14,061.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for California State University Fresno
Arizona State University placed #14 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. Arizona State University awarded about 23 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $43,149 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,396.
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California State University Chico came in at #15 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 29 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from California State University Chico earn around $33,920 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,179 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University came in at #16 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Francisco State University awarded about 12 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $28,427 in their early career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $16,797 in student loans.
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #17 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Stillwater. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 19 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $37,393 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,313 to complete this degree.
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Ohio University Main Campus earned the #18 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. About 65% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $36,850 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,546.
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Northern Arizona University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Flagstaff. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 52 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Northern Arizona University earn around $31,672 in the first couple years of their career. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Pittsburg State University landed the #20 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pittsburg. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 37 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Pittsburg State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Pittsburg State University earn around $35,587 in the first couple years of their career. Pittsburg State University graduates carry a median of $19,661 in student loans.
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University Of Northern Iowa landed the #21 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from University Of Northern Iowa earn around $37,233 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,907 to complete this degree.
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Western Washington University landed the #22 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bellingham. Western Washington University graduates 65% of students within six years. Western Washington University awarded about 41 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $27,558 in their early career. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $17,897 in student loans.
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Winona State University landed the #23 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Winona State University awarded about 21 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $35,062 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,148.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #24 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Bowling Green State University Main Campus awarded about 30 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $32,709. Bowling Green State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Oregon State University placed #25 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 17 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $34,451 in their early career. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from Oregon State University
Rest of the Top 50 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong parks, recreation & leisure studies education:
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Related Rankings by Major
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 54 schools evaluated.
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).
