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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

399 Ranked Colleges
9,894 Degrees Awarded
$41,687 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. 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 Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 9,894 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” ranking, we looked at 399 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. That schools that top this list have a program in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major” 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree parks & rec students.

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies

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 Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Daphne, Alabama, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 25 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students 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 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%.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at United States Sports Academy

2
Concordia University, Irvine crest
Concordia University, Irvine
Irvine, California

Out of the 399 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Irvine landed the #2 spot on the list. Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit institution located in Irvine, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 405 masters’s 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Irvine

3
Logan University crest
Logan University
Chesterfield, Missouri

Out of the 399 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Logan University landed the #3 spot on the list. Logan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chesterfield, Missouri. It awarded 95 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.

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

4
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Concordia University, Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized school located in River Forest, Illinois that handed out 300 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

5
Cal U crest
California University of Pennsylvania
California, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major. Cal U is located in California, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 275 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full California University of Pennsylvania Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

6

Southeastern Oklahoma State University landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is located in Durant, Oklahoma and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 159 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

7
USW crest
University of the Southwest
Hobbs, New Mexico

University of the Southwest came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. USW is located in Hobbs, New Mexico and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 25 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

Full University of the Southwest Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

8
Coker crest
Coker University
Hartsville, South Carolina

With a ranking of #8, Coker University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Coker University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hartsville, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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

9
William Penn University crest
William Penn University
Oskaloosa, Iowa

William Penn University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. This small school is located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and it awarded 18 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

10
LHU crest
Lock Haven University
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Lock Haven University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #10. Lock Haven University is a small public school situated in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. It awarded 45 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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

11
LaGrange crest
LaGrange College
Lagrange, Georgia

LaGrange College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #11. LaGrange is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lagrange, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 masters’s 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at LaGrange

12
Lasell crest
Lasell University
Newton, Massachusetts

Lasell University ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Lasell University is located in Newton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 33 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.

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

13
Randolph crest
Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia

Randolph College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Randolph College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

14
Canisius crest
Canisius College
Buffalo, New York

Canisius College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #14. Canisius is a private not-for-profit institution located in Buffalo, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 53 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

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

15
Reinhardt University crest
Reinhardt University
Waleska, Georgia

Reinhardt University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Waleska, Georgia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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

16
Webber International University crest
Webber International University
Babson Park, Florida

Webber International University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Babson Park, Florida, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Full Webber International University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

17

With a ranking of #17, Hardin - Simmons University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Abilene, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 26 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hardin - Simmons

18

With a ranking of #18, University of Western States did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. University of Western States is a small school located in Portland, Oregon that handed out 24 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 Western States Chiropractic College

19

East Central University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Located in Ada, Oklahoma, this small public school handed out 38 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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

20
GSU crest
Grambling State University
Grambling, Louisiana

With a ranking of #20, Grambling State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Grambling, Louisiana, this medium-sized public school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

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

21

Southern Nazarene University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking. Bethany, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Southern Nazarene University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

22
Wingate crest
Wingate University
Wingate, North Carolina

Wingate University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major ranking, coming in at #22. Wingate is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wingate, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

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

23
Cal Baptist crest
California Baptist University
Riverside, California

With a ranking of #23, California Baptist University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. California Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Riverside, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 129 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

24
Concordia University, Saint Paul crest
Concordia University, Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #24, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 79 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.

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%.

Full Concordia University, Saint Paul Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

25
Mississippi Valley State University crest
Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena, Mississippi

Mississippi Valley State University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major list. Located in Itta Bena, Mississippi, this small public school handed out 14 diplomas to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.

Full Mississippi Valley State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report

Rest of the Best 50 in Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Alaska Pacific crest
Alaska Pacific University
Anchorage, Alaska
27
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, Massachusetts
28
PLNU crest
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, California
29
30
SUNY Cortland crest
SUNY Cortland
Cortland, New York
31
NSU crest
Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota
32
MBU crest
Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, Missouri
33
Barton College crest
Barton College
Wilson, North Carolina
34
35
Adler crest
Adler University
Chicago, Illinois
36
Castleton crest
Castleton University
Castleton, Vermont
37
Avila crest
Avila University
Kansas City, Missouri
38
USFCA crest
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, California
39
Adams State crest
Adams State University
Alamosa, Colorado
40
Tusculum crest
Tusculum University
Greeneville, Tennessee
41
Corban crest
Corban University
Salem, Oregon
42
CU crest
Cumberland University
Lebanon, Tennessee
43
44
45
MSU crest
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota
46
UIndy crest
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
47
Cardinal Stritch crest
Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
48
East Stroudsburg University crest
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
49
50
WVSU crest
West Virginia State University
Institute, West Virginia

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 Prescott College Prescott, AZ
52 Union College Kentucky Barbourville, KY
53 Wesley College Dover, DE
54 Georgetown University Washington, DC
55 Manhattanville College Purchase, NY
56 Neumann University Aston, PA
57 East Texas Baptist University Marshall, TX
58 Jackson State University Jackson, MS
59 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL
60 Endicott College Beverly, MA

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Notes and References

References

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