2027 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in North Carolina

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in North Carolina

Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in North Carolina

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

East Carolina University
Greenville, NC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

18 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degrees Awarded

$34,751 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked East Carolina University the best school in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,587. See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for East Carolina University

2

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Greensboro, NC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

34 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degrees Awarded

$31,561 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong parks, recreation & leisure studies program will find one at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 34 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $31,561. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 2 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.