College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southeast Region

34 Ranked Colleges
568 Degrees Awarded
$24,100 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region

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 Southeast 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 Southeast region, there were 568 parks, recreation and leisure studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $28,183 and $28,553 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region” ranking looked at 34 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Parks & Rec Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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.

Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region”.

1
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Arkansas. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region. University of Arkansas is a public institution located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 77 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UARK

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. Greensboro, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UNC Greensboro

3
GaSou crest
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Georgia Southern University. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region. Georgia Southern University is located in Statesboro, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 51 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full GaSou Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

4
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Radford University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. Radford, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 41 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Radford

5
ECU crest
East Carolina University
Greenville, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend East Carolina University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region. East Carolina University is a large public school situated in Greenville, North Carolina. It awarded 37 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full East Carolina University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

6
Jacksonville State University crest
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, Alabama

Jacksonville State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Jacksonville, Alabama, and it awarded 34 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

7

University of South Alabama landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of South Alabama is a public institution located in Mobile, Alabama. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 31 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full University of South Alabama Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

8
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Shepherd University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This small school is located in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and it awarded 27 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Shepherd University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

9
GSU crest
Grambling State University
Grambling, Louisiana

With a ranking of #9, Grambling State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. Grambling, Louisiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Grambling State University

10

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. Located in Perkinston, Mississippi, this medium-sized public school handed out 24 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

11
VWU crest
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Wesleyan University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Full Virginia Wesleyan University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

12

South Georgia Technical College ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. South Georgia Technical College is a public institution located in Americus, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full South Georgia Technical College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

13
Southern Miss crest
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. University of Southern Mississippi is a fairly large public school situated in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It awarded 14 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Southern Mississippi

14
Ferrum College crest
Ferrum College
Ferrum, Virginia

Ferrum College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Ferrum College is located in Ferrum, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Ferrum College

15
Mars Hill crest
Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, North Carolina

Mars Hill University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Mars Hill, 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 9 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 Mars Hill

15
UMO crest
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, North Carolina

University of Mount Olive ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. UMO is a private not-for-profit institution located in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at UMO

17
Georgia College crest
Georgia College & State University
Milledgeville, Georgia

With a ranking of #17, Georgia College & State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. Georgia College is a medium-sized school located in Milledgeville, Georgia that handed out 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Full Georgia College & State University Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

17
North Greenville crest
North Greenville University
Tigerville, South Carolina

North Greenville University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. North Greenville University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Tigerville, South Carolina. It awarded 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at North Greenville University

19
Shaw University crest
Shaw University
Raleigh, North Carolina

With a ranking of #19, Shaw University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. This small school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

19
Newberry College crest
Newberry College
Newberry, South Carolina

Newberry College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #19. Newberry College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Newberry, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Newberry College Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

19
Alcorn State crest
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, Mississippi

With a ranking of #19, Alcorn State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. Alcorn State University is a small public school situated in Alcorn State, Mississippi. It awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Alcorn State

22
Ouachita Baptist crest
Ouachita Baptist University
Arkadelphia, Arkansas

Ouachita Baptist University ranked #22 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. This small school is located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and it awarded 3 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Ouachita Baptist Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Report

22
Carson - Newman crest
Carson - Newman University
Jefferson City, Tennessee

Carson - Newman University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Carson - Newman University is a small school located in Jefferson City, Tennessee that handed out 3 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Carson - Newman

22
Asbury crest
Asbury University
Wilmore, Kentucky

With a ranking of #22, Asbury University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. Asbury University is a small school located in Wilmore, Kentucky that handed out 3 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

25
CGTC crest
Central Georgia Technical College
Warner Robins, Georgia

With a ranking of #25, Central Georgia Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. Central Georgia Technical College is a medium-sized public school situated in Warner Robins, Georgia. It awarded 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at CGTC

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options