2027 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their parks, recreation & leisure studies programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation & leisure studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall parks, recreation & leisure studies education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
No school ranked higher than University Of Missouri Columbia this year for parks, recreation & leisure studies. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 96 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $38,725. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
Pittsburg State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #2. Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public school 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. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $35,587 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,661 to complete this degree.
Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at Pittsburg State University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Northern Iowa one of the top schools for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 28 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $37,233 early in their careers. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $23,907 in student loans.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University Of Northern Iowa
Winona State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #4. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 21 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Winona State University earn a median of $35,062 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,148 to complete this degree.
Get the full parks, recreation & leisure studies details for Winona State University
Northwest Missouri State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #5. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Northwest Missouri State University awarded about 73 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $42,389. Northwest Missouri State University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Northwest Missouri State University
University Of Nebraska At Kearney earned the #6 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public institution. University Of Nebraska At Kearney graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Nebraska At Kearney in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from University Of Nebraska At Kearney earn around $28,241 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,500.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University Of Nebraska At Kearney
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 12 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $28,345 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,457.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Missouri State University Springfield
Emporia State University placed #8 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Emporia. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. Emporia State University awarded about 14 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Emporia State University earn a median of $46,440 early in their careers. Emporia State University graduates carry a median of $23,131 in student loans.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Emporia State University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 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.