2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Kansas

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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation & leisure studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Kansas

Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in Kansas

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

Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, KS

34 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degrees Awarded

$35,587 Median Starting Salary

Pittsburg State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Pittsburg State University graduates 51% of students within six years. Pittsburg State University awarded about 34 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Pittsburg State University generally make around $35,587. Typical student debt for the program is $19,661. See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Pittsburg State University

2

Emporia State University
Emporia, KS

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

13 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degrees Awarded

$46,440 Median Starting Salary

Emporia State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #2. Located in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 13 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Emporia State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $46,440 in their early career. 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

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 · 3 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.