2024 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools in Illinois
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is about average in terms of popularity for master's degrees programs. That is, it ranks #16 out of the 37 majors across the country that we analyze each year. So, you may have to do some digging around to find quality schools that offer the degree program. This list can help with that.
In 2024, College Factual analyzed 10 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools in Illinois ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 755 master's degrees in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies to qualified students.
Jump to one of the following sections: * Our Methodology
Choosing a Great Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for Your Master's Degree
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:
Overall Quality Is a Must
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 Salaries
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.
Other Factors We Consider
In addition to the above, you should consider some of the following factors:
- Major Focus - How much a school focuses on parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students vs. other majors.
- Major Demand - The number of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students who choose to seek a master's degree at the school.
- Educational Resources - The amount of money and other resources allocated to students while they are pursuing their degree. These resources include such things as number of students per instructor and education expenditures per student.
- Student Debt - How much debt parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students go into to obtain their master's degree and how well they are able to pay back that debt.
- Accreditation - Whether a school is regionally accredited and/or accredited by a recognized parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies related body.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students working on their master's degree.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree Schools in Illinois list to help you make the college decision.
Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Illinois
Explore the top ranked colleges and universities for parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students seeking a a master's degree.
10 Top Illinois Schools for a Master's in Parks & Rec
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
53
Annual Graduates
Every student who is interested in a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies has to check out University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 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
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
62
Annual Graduates
It is hard to beat Northwestern University if you want to pursue a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Northwestern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Northwestern University
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
300
Annual Graduates
Concordia University, Chicago is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of River Forest.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Concordia University, Chicago
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
21
Annual Graduates
Every student pursuing a degree in a master's degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies has to take a look at Aurora University. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Aurora University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
67
Annual Graduates
Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Illinois State University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
38
Annual Graduates
Located in the city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public university with a large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
64
Annual Graduates
Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
47
Annual Graduates
WIU is a moderately-sized public university located in the remote town of Macomb.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Western Illinois University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
27
Annual Graduates
NIU is a fairly large public university located in the small suburb of Dekalb.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Northern Illinois University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
28
Annual Graduates
EIU is a moderately-sized public university located in the distant town of Charleston.More information about a master’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies from Eastern Illinois University