by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California” 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 California, there were 11,772 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,218 and $19,856 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California” ranking analyzed 161 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.
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 Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California”.
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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for california parks & rec students.
Out of the 161 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Professional Golfers Career College landed the #1 spot on the list. Professional Golfers Career College is a private for-profit institution located in Temecula, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 40 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Out of the 161 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, International Sports Sciences Association landed the #2 spot on the list. ISSA is a private for-profit institution located in Carpinteria, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 127 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Full ISSA Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Concordia University, Irvine. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. This small school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 438 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Irvine
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Whittier College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Whittier College is a small school located in Whittier, California that handed out 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 Whittier College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Saint Katherine. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California. University of Saint Katherine is a small school located in San Marcos, California that handed out 6 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Saint Katherine
Westmont College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. Westmont College is a small school located in Santa Barbara, California that handed out 37 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 Westmont College
With a ranking of #7, Mt. San Antonio College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Located in Walnut, California, this large public school awarded 521 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full Mt. SAC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California Baptist University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #8. This fairly large school is located in Riverside, California, and it awarded 280 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California Baptist University
Holy Names University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. This small school is located in Oakland, California, and it awarded 22 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at HNU
With a ranking of #10, California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. CSUMB is a medium-sized public school situated in Seaside, California. It awarded 154 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at CSUMB
With a ranking of #11, College of the Canyons did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Santa Clarita, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 372 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at College of the Canyons
California State University - Chico did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #12. California State University - Chico is located in Chico, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 325 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Cabrillo College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #13. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Aptos, California. It awarded 161 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cabrillo College
University of Antelope Valley landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. University of Antelope Valley is a small private for-profit school situated in Lancaster, California. It awarded 19 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 Antelope Valley Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Humboldt State University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 129 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Humboldt State University
San Diego Christian College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Santee, California, and it awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full San Diego Christian College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #17, Feather River Community College District did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Feather River Community College District is located in Quincy, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 19 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Feather River College
Vanguard University of Southern California came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Vanguard is located in Costa Mesa, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
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%.
With a ranking of #19, La Sierra University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. La Sierra is a private not-for-profit institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full La Sierra Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
William Jessup University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Located in Rocklin, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full William Jessup University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Fresno, California, this large public school awarded 323 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Fresno State
California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #22. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 581 ’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%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal State Fullerton
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #23 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California list. Located in San Diego, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 68 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full PLNU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California State University - Los Angeles came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. California State University - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 339 ’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%.
Full California State University - Los Angeles Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #25. Sac State is a public institution located in Sacramento, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 404 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full California State University - Sacramento Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
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