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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

159 Ranked Colleges
3,106 Degrees Awarded
$24,500 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 3,106 people earned their degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies, making the major the 166th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,801 and had an average of $23,333 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking looked at 159 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation and leisure studies. That schools that top this list have a program in parks, recreation and leisure studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for parks & rec students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

1
VWU crest
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Out of the 159 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Wesleyan University landed the #1 spot on the list. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at VWU

2
Ferrum College crest
Ferrum College
Ferrum, Virginia

Out of the 159 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferrum College landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Ferrum, Virginia, and it awarded 10 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Ferrum College

3
Western crest
Western Colorado University
Gunnison, Colorado

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Colorado University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Western is a small public school situated in Gunnison, Colorado. It awarded 31 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Western Colorado University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

4
Alaska Pacific crest
Alaska Pacific University
Anchorage, Alaska

Out of the 159 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Alaska Pacific University landed the #4 spot on the list. Alaska Pacific University is a small school located in Anchorage, Alaska that handed out 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Alaska Pacific University

5
Kutztown University crest
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Kutztown University is a public institution located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 95 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Kutztown University

6

With a ranking of #6, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Paul Smiths, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Full Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

7
Garrett Community College crest
Garrett College
McHenry, Maryland

Garrett College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Garrett Community College is a small public school situated in McHenry, Maryland. It awarded 5 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Garrett Community College

8
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherd University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #8. Shepherd University is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 27 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full Shepherd University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

9

University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Kearney, Nebraska, this medium-sized public school handed out 60 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNK

10
Gallaudet crest
Gallaudet University
Washington, District of Columbia

Gallaudet University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Gallaudet University is located in Washington, District of Columbia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Gallaudet University

11
Houghton crest
Houghton College
Houghton, New York

Houghton College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Houghton, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Houghton

12
Mars Hill crest
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, North Carolina

Mars Hill University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Mars Hill, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Mars Hill

13
GSU crest
Grambling State University
Grambling, Louisiana

With a ranking of #13, Grambling State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. GSU is a medium-sized public school situated in Grambling, Louisiana. It awarded 25 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Grambling State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

14
Shaw University crest
Shaw University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Shaw University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

Full Shaw University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

15
Central State University crest
Central State University
Wilberforce, Ohio

Central State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Central State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Wilberforce, Ohio. It awarded 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Central State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

16
BC3 crest
Butler County Community College
Butler, Pennsylvania

Butler County Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Butler County Community College is a small public school situated in Butler, Pennsylvania. It awarded 12 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Butler County Community College

17
Gordon College crest
Gordon College
Wenham, Massachusetts

Gordon College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #17. Gordon College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wenham, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Gordon College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

18
Newberry College crest
Newberry College
Newberry, South Carolina

Newberry College ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Newberry College is located in Newberry, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full Newberry College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

19

California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #19. Chico State is a public institution located in Chico, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 99 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University - Chico

20

Southern Oregon University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Ashland, Oregon, this medium-sized public school awarded 27 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southern Oregon University

21

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. San Luis Obispo, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 119 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

22
UNI crest
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

University of Northern Iowa ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. University of Northern Iowa is a public institution located in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Northern Iowa

23
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Radford is a medium-sized school located in Radford, Virginia that handed out 41 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Radford

24
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Winona, Minnesota, this medium-sized public school awarded 32 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Winona State

25
Jacksonville State University crest
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville State University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Jacksonville State University is a medium-sized school located in Jacksonville, Alabama that handed out 34 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Jacksonville State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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