2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in Missouri
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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools to find the best for parks, recreation & leisure studies students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in Missouri
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
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. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 70 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $38,725 early in their careers. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University Of Missouri Columbia
Northwest Missouri State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, landing the #2 spot this year. This large public university is located in the town of Maryville. Northwest Missouri State University graduates 54% of students within six years. Northwest Missouri State University awarded about 74 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.
Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at Northwest Missouri State University
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $28,345 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,457.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from Missouri State University Springfield
More Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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.
