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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Washington

21 Ranked Colleges
706 Degrees Awarded
$34,200 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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.

Across Washington, there were 706 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,351 and $22,581 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington” ranking looked at 21 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most 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.

Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington

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

Top 21 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Washington

1
PLU crest
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Pacific Lutheran University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington list. PLU is a small school located in Tacoma, Washington that handed out 42 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.

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

2
CWU crest
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Central Washington University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington. Central Washington University is a fairly large school located in Ellensburg, Washington that handed out 129 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

3
WWU crest
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Washington University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington. Western Washington University is a fairly large public school situated in Bellingham, Washington. It awarded 116 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Western Washington University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

4
Gonzaga crest
Gonzaga University
Spokane, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Gonzaga University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington. Gonzaga is a private not-for-profit institution located in Spokane, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% 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 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

5
Puget Sound crest
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Puget Sound. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington. This small school is located in Tacoma, Washington, and it awarded 17 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.

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

6
Northwest University crest
Northwest University
Kirkland, Washington

Northwest University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington ranking. Northwest University is a small school located in Kirkland, Washington that handed out 7 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

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

7
Wazzu crest
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington

Washington State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington ranking. Located in Pullman, Washington, this large public school handed out 156 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

8
Seattle U crest
Seattle University
Seattle, Washington

Seattle University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 40 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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

9
Saint Martin's crest
Saint Martin's University
Lacey, Washington

Saint Martin’s University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington list. Saint Martin’s University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lacey, Washington. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s 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 Saint Martin’s University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

10
EWU crest
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington

Eastern Washington University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington ranking. EWU is located in Cheney, Washington and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 39 ’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%.

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

11
Whitworth crest
Whitworth University
Spokane, Washington

Whitworth University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington ranking. Located in Spokane, Washington, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 Whitworth University

12
Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom crest
Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom
Lakewood, Washington

Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington list. Located in Lakewood, Washington, this medium-sized public school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Pierce College-Fort Steilacoom

13
GRC crest
Green River College
Auburn, Washington

Green River College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Auburn, Washington, this medium-sized public school handed out 17 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Full Green River College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

14
SPU crest
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, Washington

Seattle Pacific University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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%.

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

15

Spokane Falls Community College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington ranking. Spokane Falls Community College is a small public school situated in Spokane, Washington. It awarded 5 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Spokane Falls Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

16
Highline crest
Highline College
Des Moines, Washington

Highline College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington ranking. Highline College is a small school located in Des Moines, Washington that handed out 2 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

17
Spokane Community College crest
Spokane Community College
Spokane, Washington

With a ranking of #17, Spokane Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington list. Spokane Community College is located in Spokane, Washington and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

18

Lake Washington Institute of Technology ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington list. Located in Kirkland, Washington, this small public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

19
Walla Walla Community College crest
Walla Walla Community College
Walla Walla, Washington

Walla Walla Community College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington ranking. Walla Walla, Washington is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

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

19

With a ranking of #19, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington list. UW Seattle is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UW Seattle Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

19
Skagit Valley College crest
Skagit Valley College
Mount Vernon, Washington

Skagit Valley College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Washington ranking, coming in at #19. Skagit Valley College is located in Mount Vernon, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full Skagit Valley College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

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