by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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 the Southwest region, there were 10,228 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,393 and $22,734 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 7,920 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $40,112 and $26,227 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, we looked at 92 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The colleges and universities below are the best for southwest region bachelor’s degree parks & rec students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Jarvis Christian College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Hawkins, Texas 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 28 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Jarvis Christian College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southwestern Christian University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region. Bethany, Oklahoma 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 13 students in 2020-2021.
Full SCU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 92 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Huston - Tillotson University landed the #3 spot on the list. Huston - Tillotson University is a small school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 34 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Huston - Tillotson University
Out of the 92 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ottawa University - Surprise landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Surprise, Arizona, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec 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.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ottawa University - Surprise
Out of the 92 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Bacone College landed the #5 spot on the list. Bacone College is a small school located in Muskogee, Oklahoma that handed out 5 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Bacone College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Texas Lutheran University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Seguin, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 43 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full Texas Lutheran University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Randall University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. This small school is located in Moore, Oklahoma, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Randall
Northwestern Oklahoma State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. NWOSU is a small public school situated in Alva, Oklahoma. It awarded 34 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at NWOSU
With a ranking of #9, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Chickasha, Oklahoma, this small public school handed out 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Howard Payne University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Howard Payne is located in Brownwood, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Howard Payne University
With a ranking of #11, Schreiner University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Schreiner University is located in Kerrville, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Schreiner University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Sul Ross State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #12. Sul Ross State University is a small school located in Alpine, Texas that handed out 40 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Sul Ross
Tarleton State University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Tarleton is a fairly large public school situated in Stephenville, Texas. It awarded 240 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Tarleton State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Oklahoma Panhandle State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Oklahoma Panhandle State University is a small school located in Goodwell, Oklahoma that handed out 25 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at OPSU
East Central University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. East Central University is a small school located in Ada, Oklahoma that handed out 52 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at ECU
Texas State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #16. Texas State is a public institution located in San Marcos, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 571 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas State University
With a ranking of #17, Hardin - Simmons University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Abilene, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 34 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full Hardin - Simmons Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Lubbock Christian University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Lubbock, Texas 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 22 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at LCU
With a ranking of #19, Prairie View A & M University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Prairie View A & M University is a medium-sized public school situated in Prairie View, Texas. It awarded 107 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Prairie View A & M University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Oral Roberts University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 45 degrees to qualified bachelors’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full Oral Roberts University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #21. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public institution located in San Antonio, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 465 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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%.
Cameron University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Cameron University is a public institution located in Lawton, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 40 bachelors’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cameron University
Stephen F Austin State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #23. SFASU is located in Nacogdoches, Texas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 164 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SFASU
University of the Southwest landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Hobbs, New Mexico, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of the Southwest
Southwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. Southwestern is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Georgetown, Texas. It awarded 20 bachelors’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Full Southwestern Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Read more about our data sources and methodologies