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 for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” 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 the Middle Atlantic region, there were 8,010 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,049 and $25,045 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,247 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $62,572 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking looked at 48 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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 for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region” list to help you make the college 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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for middle atlantic region master’s degree parks & rec students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Cal U is a medium-sized school located in California, Pennsylvania that handed out 275 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal U
Out of the 48 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lock Haven University landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 45 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Lock Haven University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Canisius College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Located in Buffalo, New York, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 53 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full Canisius Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend SUNY Cortland. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Cortland, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 SUNY Cortland
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized public school handed out 31 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Stroudsburg University
Wesley College ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. This small school is located in Dover, Delaware, and it awarded 6 masters’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.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Wesley College
Georgetown University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Located in Washington, District of Columbia, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 150 degrees to qualified masters’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Georgetown University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Manhattanville College landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Manhattanville College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Purchase, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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. 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 Manhattanville Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Neumann University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #9. Neumann is located in Aston, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Neumann University
Delaware State University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Dover, Delaware, and it awarded 15 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Delaware State University
Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #11. Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus is a medium-sized school located in Indiana, Pennsylvania that handed out 51 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at IUP
Mount St Mary’s University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Mount St Mary’s University is located in Emmitsburg, Maryland and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 masters’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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mount St Mary’s University
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Fairleigh Dickinson University - Metropolitan Campus is a private not-for-profit institution located in Teaneck, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Frostburg State University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Frostburg State University is a small public school situated in Frostburg, Maryland. It awarded 16 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Frostburg State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Gannon University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #15. Gannon is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Erie, Pennsylvania. It awarded 12 masters’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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Gannon
Millersville University of Pennsylvania came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Millersville University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized school located in Millersville, Pennsylvania that handed out 17 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Florham Campus ranked #17 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. FDU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Madison, New Jersey. The school has a small population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Adelphi University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Adelphi University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Garden City, New York. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 24 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full Adelphi Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a medium-sized school located in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania that handed out 20 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Niagara University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #20. Niagara is a private not-for-profit institution located in Niagara University, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Niagara
Temple University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. Temple is a large public school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 73 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Temple
St John’s University - New York did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #22. STJ is located in Queens, New York and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 31 masters’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at STJ
Brooklyn College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking, coming in at #23. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 28 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Brooklyn College
Messiah University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region ranking. This small school is located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 6 masters’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Messiah Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #25, William Paterson University of New Jersey did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Middle Atlantic Region list. Wayne, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s parks and rec degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at William Paterson University
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