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2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region

22 Ranked Colleges
115 Degrees Awarded
$69,500 Avg Salary
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 Southeast region, there were 19,760 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,102 and $25,352 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 115 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $74,087 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region” ranking, we looked at 22 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.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region”.

Top 22 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend United States Sports Academy. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. United States Sports Academy is a private not-for-profit institution located in Daphne, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 15 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 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 United States Sports Academy

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is located in Greensboro, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

3
TROY crest
Troy University
Troy, Alabama

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Troy University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region. Located in Troy, Alabama, this fairly large public school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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

4
ETSU crest
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, Tennessee

Out of the 22 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, East Tennessee State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Johnson City, Tennessee, this fairly large public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified doctorate’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Alabama at Birmingham. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region. UAB is a large public school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 6 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

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

6

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. UT Knoxville is located in Knoxville, Tennessee and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

7
UA crest
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

The University of Alabama ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. UA is a large school located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that handed out 7 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

8
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina

Clemson University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Clemson, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

9
Middle Tennessee State University crest
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Middle Tennessee State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a large school located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee that handed out 3 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Middle Tennessee State University

10
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. This large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Georgia State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

11
WVU crest
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia

With a ranking of #11, West Virginia University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, and it awarded 4 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full West Virginia University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

12
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

With a ranking of #12, Mississippi State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. This large school is located in Mississippi State, Mississippi, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

13
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. UGA is a public institution located in Athens, Georgia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

14
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Norfolk, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Old Dominion

15
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking. Lexington, Kentucky is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s parks and rec degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, 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.

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

16
Ole Miss crest
University of Mississippi
University, Mississippi

University of Mississippi did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #16. University of Mississippi is a public institution located in University, Mississippi. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ole Miss

17
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida

Florida State University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region list. Florida State is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 4 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

18

University of South Carolina - Columbia did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #18. University of South Carolina - Columbia is a large school located in Columbia, South Carolina that handed out 3 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of South Carolina - Columbia

19
Southern Miss crest
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #19. This fairly large school is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full University of Southern Mississippi Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

20
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #20. NC State is a public institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

21
UARK crest
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas

University of Arkansas did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #21. UARK is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 1 doctorate’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 University of Arkansas Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

22
UNA crest
University of North Alabama
Florence, Alabama

University of North Alabama did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #22. UNA is a public institution located in Florence, Alabama. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 115 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

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