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2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

413 Ranked Colleges
5,979 Degrees Awarded
$26,246 Avg Salary
Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking.

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,423 and had an average of $24,388 in loans still to pay off.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 5,979 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,806 and $19,336 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking analyzed 413 colleges that offered a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools

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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 “Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree parks & rec students.

Top 25 Most Focused Associate Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Professional Golfers Career College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Professional Golfers Career College is located in Temecula, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full Professional Golfers Career College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend International Sports Sciences Association. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. ISSA is a private for-profit institution located in Carpinteria, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 113 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at International Sports Sciences Association

3
Bryan University crest
Bryan University
Tempe, Arizona

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bryan University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This small school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 145 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bryan University

4
Mt. SAC crest
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mt. San Antonio College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. This large school is located in Walnut, California, and it awarded 500 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mt. San Antonio College

5
Garrett Community College crest
Garrett College
McHenry, Maryland

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Garrett College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Garrett College is a public institution located in McHenry, Maryland. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Garrett Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

6
College of the Canyons crest
College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, California

College of the Canyons landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Clarita, California, and it awarded 372 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at College of the Canyons

7
Cabrillo College crest
Cabrillo College
Aptos, California

Cabrillo College ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Aptos, California. It awarded 156 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cabrillo College

8

With a ranking of #8, Feather River Community College District did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Feather River Community College District is a public institution located in Quincy, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Feather River College

9
SUNY Sullivan crest
Sullivan County Community College
Loch Sheldrake, New York

Sullivan County Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #9. Loch Sheldrake, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 11 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SUNY Sullivan

10
Frontier Community College crest
Frontier Community College
Fairfield, Illinois

Frontier Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #10. Frontier Community College is a small school located in Fairfield, Illinois that handed out 8 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Frontier Community College

11

Vermilion Community College landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Ely, Minnesota, this small public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified associates’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Vermilion Community College

12
Jefferson Community College crest
Jefferson Community College
Watertown, New York

Jefferson Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Jefferson Community College is a small school located in Watertown, New York that handed out 18 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Jefferson Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

13

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #13. Miami, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

14
Platt College - Anaheim crest
Platt College - Anaheim
Anaheim, California

Platt College - Anaheim came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Platt College - Anaheim is a small school located in Anaheim, California that handed out 9 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.8% 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 Platt College - Anaheim Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

15
CCCC crest
Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Fort Totten, North Dakota

With a ranking of #15, Cankdeska Cikana Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Fort Totten, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

Full Cankdeska Cikana Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

16
United Tribes Technical College crest
United Tribes Technical College
Bismarck, North Dakota

United Tribes Technical College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #16. United Tribes Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bismarck, North Dakota. It awarded 3 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at United Tribes Technical College

17
Riverside City College crest
Riverside City College
Riverside, California

Riverside City College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Riverside City College is a fairly large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 170 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Riverside City College

18

Hudson Valley Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. HVCC is a medium-sized school located in Troy, New York that handed out 55 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hudson Valley Community College

19
Lincoln Trail College crest
Lincoln Trail College
Robinson, Illinois

With a ranking of #19, Lincoln Trail College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Lincoln Trail College is a small public school situated in Robinson, Illinois. It awarded 6 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lincoln Trail College

20
Finger Lakes Community College crest
Finger Lakes Community College
Canandaigua, New York

Finger Lakes Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Finger Lakes Community College is a medium-sized school located in Canandaigua, New York that handed out 19 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Finger Lakes Community College

21

Western Oklahoma State College ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This small school is located in Altus, Oklahoma, and it awarded 8 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Oklahoma State College

22
Dean College crest
Dean College
Franklin, Massachusetts

Dean College ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. This small school is located in Franklin, Massachusetts, and it awarded 9 associates’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Dean College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

23
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

With a ranking of #23, Lake Superior State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Sault Ste Marie, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associates’s parks and rec degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lake Superior State University

24
Gogebic Community College crest
Gogebic Community College
Ironwood, Michigan

Gogebic Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Gogebic Community College is located in Ironwood, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 associates’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full Gogebic Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

25
Monroe College crest
Monroe College
Bronx, New York

Monroe College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Monroe College is a private for-profit institution located in Bronx, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 69 associates’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Monroe College

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
College of the Siskiyous crest
College of the Siskiyous
Weed, California
28
Clovis Community College crest
Clovis Community College
Fresno, California
29
Fresno City College crest
Fresno City College
Fresno, California
30
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College of the Desert
Palm Desert, California
31
Shasta College crest
Shasta College
Redding, California
32
33
33
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Butler County Community College
Butler, Pennsylvania
35
Skyline College crest
Skyline College
San Bruno, California
36
Diablo Valley crest
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, California
37
38
Howard County Junior College crest
Howard College
Big Spring, Texas
39
LTCC crest
Lake Tahoe Community College
South Lake Tahoe, California
40
41
42
Blinn College crest
Blinn College
Brenham, Texas
43
NCC crest
Norwalk Community College
Norwalk, Connecticut
44
GCC crest
Glendale Community College
Glendale, California
45
Western Texas College crest
Western Texas College
Snyder, Texas
46
47
Chipola crest
Chipola College
Marianna, Florida
48
Cosumnes River crest
Cosumnes River College
Sacramento, California
49
JUFL crest
Johnson University Florida
Kissimmee, Florida
50
Holmes Community College crest
Holmes Community College
Goodman, Mississippi

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools for an Associate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Norco College Norco, CA
52 Laramie County Community College Cheyenne, WY
53 College of San Mateo San Mateo, CA
54 Jamestown Community College Jamestown, NY
54 El Paso Community College El Paso, TX
56 Columbia College Sonora, CA
57 Hartnell College Salinas, CA
58 West Valley College Saratoga, CA
59 Northeast Community College Norfolk, NE
60 SUNY Broome Binghamton, NY
61 Rose State College Midwest City, OK
62 Citrus College Glendora, CA

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