2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Ohio

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Ohio

Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in Ohio

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

1

Ohio University Main Campus
Athens, OH

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

25 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degrees Awarded

$36,850 Median Starting Salary

No school ranked higher than Ohio University Main Campus this year for parks, recreation & leisure studies. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 25 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $36,850. Ohio University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Ohio University Main Campus

2

Bowling Green State University Main Campus
Bowling Green, OH

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

34 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degrees Awarded

$32,709 Median Starting Salary

A rank of #2 makes Bowling Green State University Main Campus one of the top schools for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 34 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $32,709 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at Bowling Green State University Main Campus

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 10 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.