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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southwest Region

10 Ranked Colleges
247 Degrees Awarded
$24,400 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

Across the Southwest region, there were 247 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,896 and $23,205 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 10 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation and leisure studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in parks, recreation and leisure studies.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region”.

Top 10 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southwest Region

1
MSU Texas crest
MSU Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend MSU Texas. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. MSU Texas is a medium-sized public school situated in Wichita Falls, Texas. It awarded 12 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at MSU Texas

2
NAU crest
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Arizona University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Flagstaff, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 59 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northern Arizona University

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Oklahoma State University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Oklahoma State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at OSU

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region. Located in Durant, Oklahoma, this medium-sized public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Central Oklahoma. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. University of Central Oklahoma is a public institution located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UCO

6
ORU crest
Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oral Roberts University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Full Oral Roberts University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

7

Arizona State University - Skysong did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. This large school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 25 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Arizona State University - Skysong Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

8

With a ranking of #8, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. ASU - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 18 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Arizona State University - Tempe Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

9

Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. College Station, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 80 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national 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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Texas A&M College Station

9

Eastern New Mexico University - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Portales, New Mexico is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at ENMU - Main Campus

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References

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