2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall parks, recreation & leisure studies education in the Rocky Mountains Region.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
Leading the list is Brigham Young University Provo, our #1 school for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. About 125 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $47,596 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from Brigham Young University Provo
Southern Utah University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Cedar City. Southern Utah University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Southern Utah University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Southern Utah University earn around $44,998 in the first couple years of their career. Southern Utah University graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans.
Get the full parks, recreation & leisure studies details for Southern Utah University
University Of Utah is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Salt Lake City. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 34 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Utah in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $37,009 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,982.
Get the full parks, recreation & leisure studies details for University Of Utah
Western State College Of Colorado is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #4. Located in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Western State College Of Colorado awarded about 23 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Western State College Of Colorado earn around $25,903 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,507 to complete this degree.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Western State College Of Colorado
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, 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.
