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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Virginia

22 Ranked Colleges
1,296 Degrees Awarded
$29,019 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned their degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the 15th most popular in the United States. 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.

Across Virginia, there were 1,741 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,990 and $25,658 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,296 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,553 and $27,844 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia” ranking, we looked at 22 colleges that offer 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.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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

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The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia”.

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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia

The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.

Top 22 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Virginia

1
Bridgewater crest
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bridgewater College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgewater, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Bridgewater Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

2
Emory & Henry College crest
Emory and Henry College
Emory, Virginia

Out of the 22 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Emory and Henry College landed the #2 spot on the list. Emory, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Emory and Henry College

3
Roanoke crest
Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Roanoke College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia. Roanoke is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Salem, Virginia. It awarded 41 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Roanoke

4
Ferrum College crest
Ferrum College
Ferrum, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ferrum College. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia. Ferrum College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ferrum, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

5
AU crest
Averett University
Danville, Virginia

Out of the 22 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Averett University landed the #5 spot on the list. Averett University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Danville, Virginia. It awarded 32 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

6
Bluefield College crest
Bluefield College
Bluefield, Virginia

Bluefield College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. This small school is located in Bluefield, Virginia, and it awarded 26 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

7
Hampton crest
Hampton University
Hampton, Virginia

Hampton University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. This small school is located in Hampton, Virginia, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hampton

8
VWU crest
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Wesleyan University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 23 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Full VWU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

9
Randolph crest
Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia

Randolph College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 9 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Randolph Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

10
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. JMU is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 292 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at JMU

11
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #11, William & Mary did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. William & Mary is a public institution located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 125 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full William & Mary Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

12
Eastern Mennonite crest
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Eastern Mennonite University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.

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

13
Lynchburg crest
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia

University of Lynchburg did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 26 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lynchburg

14
Longwood crest
Longwood University
Farmville, Virginia

With a ranking of #14, Longwood University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Longwood is a small school located in Farmville, Virginia that handed out 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Longwood University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

15
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, this large public school awarded 105 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Old Dominion University

16
Norfolk State crest
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia

Norfolk State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Norfolk State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 16 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Norfolk State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

17
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Radford is a medium-sized public school situated in Radford, Virginia. It awarded 44 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

18
Shenandoah crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia

Shenandoah University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Winchester, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Shenandoah University

19
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 84 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Virginia - Main Campus

20
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. This large school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 186 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Liberty University

21
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. George Mason University is a large public school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 82 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full GMU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

22

With a ranking of #22, Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. VCU is a large school located in Richmond, Virginia that handed out 47 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full VCU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

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