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

43 Ranked Colleges
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Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the 15th most popular major in the country with 72,741 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $31,466 and had an average of $24,117 in loans still to pay off.

Across Michigan, there were 2,303 parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,378 and $25,157 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan” ranking looked at 43 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in parks, recreation, leisure, & 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 Michigan” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 Michigan

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

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Michigan

1
Adrian crest
Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan

Out of the 43 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Adrian College landed the #1 spot on the list. Adrian is a private not-for-profit institution located in Adrian, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 63 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

2
Olivet crest
Olivet College
Olivet, Michigan

Out of the 43 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan that were part of this year’s ranking, Olivet College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Olivet, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 33 diplomas to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

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%.

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

3
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lake Superior State University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Lake Superior State University is a public institution located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lake Superior State University

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Concordia University, Ann Arbor. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Concordia University, Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. 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.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Ann Arbor

5
Albion crest
Albion College
Albion, Michigan

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Albion College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan. Albion is a small school located in Albion, Michigan that handed out 37 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

6
Central Michigan crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan

With a ranking of #6, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Central Michigan University is a fairly large public school situated in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. It awarded 247 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Central Michigan University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

7
Cornerstone crest
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Cornerstone University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Cornerstone University is a small school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan that handed out 17 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

8

Grand Valley State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. GVSU is located in Allendale, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 275 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 Grand Valley State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

9
Hope crest
Hope College
Holland, Michigan

Hope College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Hope College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Holland, Michigan. It awarded 44 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. 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%.

Full Hope College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

10
Aquinas College Michigan crest
Aquinas College Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Aquinas College Michigan landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Aquinas College Michigan is a small school located in Grand Rapids, Michigan that handed out 24 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

11
Northern Michigan University crest
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, Michigan

Northern Michigan University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Northern Michigan University is a public institution located in Marquette, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 76 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

12
Hillsdale College crest
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, Michigan

With a ranking of #12, Hillsdale College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Hillsdale College is a small school located in Hillsdale, Michigan that handed out 16 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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 excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

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

13
RU crest
Rochester University
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Rochester University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Rochester University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester Hills, Michigan. It awarded 22 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 Rochester University

14
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 355 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.

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

15
Calvin crest
Calvin University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Calvin University ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 33 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

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

16
Gogebic Community College crest
Gogebic Community College
Ironwood, Michigan

Gogebic Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Located in Ironwood, Michigan, this small public school handed out 6 degrees to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

17
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University ranked #17 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. WMU is a fairly large school located in Kalamazoo, Michigan that handed out 160 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

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%.

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

18
Eastern Michigan crest
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Michigan University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Eastern Michigan University is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 107 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Eastern Michigan University

19
Saginaw Valley State University crest
Saginaw Valley State University
University Center, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Saginaw Valley State University is a medium-sized public school situated in University Center, Michigan. It awarded 47 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Saginaw Valley State University

20
Davenport University crest
Davenport University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Davenport University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. This medium-sized school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 31 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

21
Northwood crest
Northwood University
Midland, Michigan

Northwood University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Midland, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks & rec degrees to 18 students in 2021-2022.

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. 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

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

22

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. U-M is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 310 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at U-M

23
Spring Arbor crest
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, Michigan

With a ranking of #23, Spring Arbor University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Spring Arbor is located in Spring Arbor, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 14 ’s parks & rec degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Spring Arbor

24
Wayne State crest
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan

Wayne State University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan ranking. Wayne State is a large school located in Detroit, Michigan that handed out 127 ’s parks & rec degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 Wayne State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

25
Siena Heights University crest
Siena Heights University
Adrian, Michigan

With a ranking of #25, Siena Heights University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Michigan list. Located in Adrian, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 diplomas to qualified ’s parks & rec students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 Siena Heights University

Notes and References

References

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