2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Master’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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 152 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation & leisure studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the United States
Below are the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
No school ranked higher than University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 21 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $47,726 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete this degree.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Students looking for a strong parks, recreation & leisure studies program will find one at Suny College At Cortland, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Suny College At Cortland generally make around $38,709. Typical student debt for the program is $25,369.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Suny College At Cortland
Indiana University Bloomington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $42,647. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from Indiana University Bloomington
Northwest Missouri State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Northwest Missouri State University awarded about 49 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $42,389. Northwest Missouri State University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Northwest Missouri State University
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies rankings across degree levels:
View All Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 152 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.
