by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic 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 Middle Atlantic region, there were 284 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,534 and $27,000 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking, we looked at 27 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation and leisure studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular parks, recreation and leisure studies programs in the United States.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for middle atlantic region parks & rec students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Kutztown, Pennsylvania is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 95 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kingsborough Community College. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region. Kingsborough Community College is a fairly large school located in Brooklyn, New York that handed out 35 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Kingsborough Community College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lehman College. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region. This fairly large school is located in Bronx, New York, and it awarded 26 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Lehman College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend SUNY Cortland. The school came in at #4 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in Cortland, New York, this medium-sized public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.
Full SUNY Cortland Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gallaudet University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Gallaudet University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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
York College of Pennsylvania came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. YCP is located in York, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Butler County Community College landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. BC3 is a small public school situated in Butler, Pennsylvania. It awarded 12 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Butler County Community College
SUNY Plattsburgh came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Plattsburgh, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.
Full SUNY Plattsburgh Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Houghton College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This small school is located in Houghton, New York, and it awarded 9 ’s parks and rec degrees 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Houghton College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #9. Paul Smith’s College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Paul Smiths, New York. It awarded 9 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
With a ranking of #11, Messiah University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Messiah is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Messiah University
With a ranking of #12, Tompkins Cortland Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Tompkins Cortland is a small public school situated in Dryden, New York. It awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Tompkins Cortland Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
With a ranking of #12, Mohawk Valley Community College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Utica, New York, and it awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Mohawk Valley Community College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
Niagara County Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Niagara County Community College is a small public school situated in Sanborn, New York. It awarded 5 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Niagara County Community College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report
With a ranking of #14, Garrett College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Garrett Community College is a public institution located in McHenry, Maryland. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Garrett Community College
Sullivan County Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Loch Sheldrake, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at SUNY Sullivan
Ithaca College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Ithaca is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 3 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Ithaca
Frostburg State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Frostburg, Maryland, this small public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Frostburg State University
With a ranking of #19, The Graduate Center, CUNY did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. New York, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at The Graduate Center
University of Baltimore came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. UB is a small school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 0 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Morgan State University ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Baltimore, Maryland, and it awarded 0 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Morgan State
Montgomery College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Rockville, Maryland is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Montgomery College
University of Maryland - College Park landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. UMCP is a large public school situated in College Park, Maryland. It awarded 0 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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%.
Corning Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in Corning, New York, this small public school handed out 0 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Corning Community College
Frederick Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in Frederick, Maryland, this medium-sized public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Frederick Community College
Warren County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #19. Warren County Community College is a public institution located in Washington, New Jersey. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees 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 more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Warren County Community College
Prince George’s Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Prince George’s Community College is a fairly large school located in Largo, Maryland that handed out 0 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies