by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2024, College Factual analyzed 264 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 9,894 master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies during the 2020-2021 academic year.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
The parks & rec master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality parks & rec program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To make it into this list a school must rank well in our overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking. This ranking considered factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students working on their master's degree.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students seeking a a master's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
It's difficult to beat Columbia University in the City of New York if you want to pursue a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Columbia University in the City of New York
It is difficult to beat North Carolina State University if you wish to pursue a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. NC State is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Raleigh.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from North Carolina State University
Northwestern University is a wonderful choice for individuals interested in a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Evanston.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Northwestern University
Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Florida
Located in the city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Texas A&M University - College Station
U-M is a fairly large public university located in the city of Ann Arbor.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
OHIO Athens is a very large public university located in the town of Athens.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Ohio University - Athens Campus
Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Wisconsin - Madison
Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Concordia University, Irvine
Iowa is a very large public university located in the small city of Iowa City.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Iowa
Located in the small city of Fayetteville, UARK is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Arkansas
Ohio State is a fairly large public university located in the city of Columbus.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Ohio State University - Main Campus
Located in the town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from American Public University System
Located in the suburb of Amherst, UMass Amherst is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Massachusetts Amherst
Located in the suburb of Storrs, UCONN is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Connecticut
SRU is a moderately-sized public university located in the town of Slippery Rock.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
IU Bloomington is a very large public university located in the city of Bloomington.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Indiana University - Bloomington
Located in the large city of Washington, Georgetown is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Georgetown University
Concordia University, Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of River Forest.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Concordia University, Chicago
Located in the large city of Minneapolis, UMN Twin Cities is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Located in the large city of Philadelphia, Temple is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Temple University
Located in the small suburb of Durham, UNH is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
University of Virginia is a very large public university located in the small suburb of Charlottesville.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from University of Virginia - Main Campus
CSULB is a fairly large public university located in the city of Long Beach.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from California State University - Long Beach
Here are some additional great schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies students that almost earned our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Southern Nazarene University | Bethany, OK |
| 41 | Central Washington University | Ellensburg, WA |
| 42 | Arkansas State University - Main Campus | Jonesboro, AR |
| 43 | Seattle University | Seattle, WA |
| 44 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick | New Brunswick, NJ |
| 45 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO |
| 46 | United States Sports Academy | Daphne, AL |
| 47 | Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA |
| 48 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA |
| 49 | Washington State University | Pullman, WA |
| 50 | Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, AZ |
| 51 | Canisius College | Buffalo, NY |
| 52 | University of South Carolina - Columbia | Columbia, SC |
View the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 9,242 |
| Recreation Administration | 396 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 198 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 30 |
| Outdoor Education | 28 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration & Social Service | 49,660 |
