by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin” ranking.
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 Wisconsin, there were 1,030 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,670 and $26,214 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer 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.
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin” list to help you make the college decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carroll University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin list. This small school is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and it awarded 111 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Carroll U
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin list. This fairly large school is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and it awarded 252 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, 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%.
Full UW - La Crosse Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 24 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s ranking, Ripon College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Ripon, Wisconsin, and it awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Ripon Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Parkside. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin. UW - Parkside is a small school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin that handed out 46 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Parkside
Out of the 24 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin that were part of this year’s ranking, Carthage College landed the #5 spot on the list. Carthage College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It awarded 30 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Carthage
Marian University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Marian University
Cardinal Stritch University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #7. Cardinal Stritch is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 19 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cardinal Stritch University
Northland College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #8. Northland is a small school located in Ashland, Wisconsin that handed out 5 ’s parks and rec degrees 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 Northland
Wisconsin Lutheran College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Wisconsin Lutheran College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at WLC
Lakeland University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Plymouth, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lakeland University
With a ranking of #11, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin list. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh is a fairly large school located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin that handed out 55 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin list. This medium-sized school is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and it awarded 42 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. This fairly large school is located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and it awarded 53 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at UW - Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin - Platteville came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Platteville, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 32 students in 2020-2021.
Full UW - Platteville Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Concordia University, Wisconsin came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a medium-sized school located in Mequon, Wisconsin that handed out 23 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin - River Falls landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Located in River Falls, Wisconsin, this medium-sized public school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UW - River Falls Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 87 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full UWM Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 148 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Viterbo University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Viterbo is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Viterbo University
With a ranking of #20, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin list. Fennimore, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southwest Tech
Maranatha Baptist University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin list. Located in Watertown, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Maranatha Baptist University
Madison Area Technical College landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. Madison College is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Madison College
Alverno College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking, coming in at #23. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Alverno Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Marquette University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Wisconsin ranking. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 5 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Marquette University
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
