2027 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their parks, recreation & leisure studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 47 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the United States
See the highest-ranked parks, recreation & leisure studies schools offering a bachelor’s degree below.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
Our analysis ranked California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo the best school in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 106 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $39,157 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,369.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Indiana University Bloomington is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #2. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 104 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $35,429. Typical student debt for the program is $19,750.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Indiana University Bloomington
San Diego State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 25 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $33,692. Students borrow a median of $14,999 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #4. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 51 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $40,338 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,024 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation & leisure studies program will find one at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #5. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 107 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $34,742 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 21 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #7 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 96 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $38,725 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Brigham Young University Provo placed #8 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 141 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $47,596. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach earned the #9 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 40 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $35,532. Typical student debt for the program is $14,500.
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California State University East Bay landed the #10 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. California State University East Bay awarded about 13 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from California State University East Bay earn around $43,700 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,306 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fresno placed #11 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 22 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $32,697. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $14,061 in student loans.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California State University Fresno
Arizona State University landed the #12 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Arizona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Arizona State University earn around $43,149 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,396 to complete this degree.
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California State University Chico ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $33,920. Students borrow a median of $18,179 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University came in at #14 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $28,427. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $16,797 in student loans.
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Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 12 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn around $37,393 in the first couple years of their career. Oklahoma State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $21,313 in student loans.
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Ohio University Main Campus earned the #16 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Ohio University Main Campus awarded about 24 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $36,850 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,546.
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Northern Arizona University came in at #17 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. About 46 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Northern Arizona University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $31,672. Northern Arizona University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Pittsburg State University landed the #18 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pittsburg. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 37 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Pittsburg State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Pittsburg State University earn around $35,587 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,661 to complete this degree.
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Northwest Missouri State University earned the #19 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 23 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Northwest Missouri State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $42,389 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,250.
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University Of Northern Iowa ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $37,233. Typical student debt for the program is $23,907.
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Western Washington University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 41 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $27,558 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,897 to complete this degree.
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Winona State University earned the #22 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 21 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $35,062. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $21,148 in student loans.
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Bowling Green State University Main Campus landed the #23 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 30 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Bowling Green State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $32,709. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Oregon State University landed the #24 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Oregon State University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 17 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $34,451 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arkansas earned the #25 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. University Of Arkansas graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 96 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $31,567 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,310.
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Rest of the Top 47 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong parks, recreation & leisure studies education:
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 47 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.