by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
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 Rocky Mountains region, there were 2,772 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,911 and $19,677 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking looked at 53 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.
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 the Rocky Mountains Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important 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.
The colleges and universities below are the best for rocky mountains region parks & rec students.
Out of the 53 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Rocky Mountain College landed the #1 spot on the list. Rocky Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Billings, Montana. It awarded 28 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Rocky
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Colorado University. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region. Western Colorado University is a public institution located in Gunnison, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 57 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Colorado University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fort Lewis College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region list. FLC is a public institution located in Durango, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 65 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full FLC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Colorado Mesa University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region. Colorado Mesa University is a public institution located in Grand Junction, Colorado. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 151 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Colorado Mesa University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Adams State University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Adams State is a public institution located in Alamosa, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 70 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Adams State University
University of Northern Colorado ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region list. University of Northern Colorado is a fairly large public school situated in Greeley, Colorado. It awarded 202 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Northern Colorado
Colorado State University - Pueblo ranked #7 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Pueblo, Colorado, and it awarded 40 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The University of Montana - Western came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Dillon, Montana, this small public school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Montana Western
University of Utah landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. U of U is a large school located in Salt Lake City, Utah that handed out 382 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at U of U
Southern Utah University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #10. Southern Utah University is located in Cedar City, Utah and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 117 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 Southern Utah University
Colorado State University - Fort Collins came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Colorado State University - Fort Collins is a public institution located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 326 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
University of Providence came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Great Falls, Montana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 University of Providence
Metropolitan State University of Denver landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Denver, Colorado, and it awarded 127 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full MSU Denver Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Brigham Young University - Provo came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Provo, Utah is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 267 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at BYU
The College of Idaho landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. The College of Idaho is located in Caldwell, Idaho and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The College of Idaho
Montana State University - Billings landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Billings, Montana, this small public school awarded 25 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
University of Wyoming landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. University of Wyoming is a public institution located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 97 ’s 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 University of Wyoming Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Montana State University - Northern ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Montana State University - Northern is a small school located in Havre, Montana that handed out 8 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Montana State University - Northern
Lewis - Clark State College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking, coming in at #19. Lewis - Clark State College is located in Lewiston, Idaho and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Lewis - Clark State College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Dixie State University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Saint George, Utah is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 69 students in 2020-2021.
Full Dixie State College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Northwest Nazarene University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Northwest Nazarene University is a small school located in Nampa, Idaho that handed out 15 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwest Nazarene University
Utah State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. USU is a large public school situated in Logan, Utah. It awarded 131 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at USU
University of Idaho landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region ranking. Located in Moscow, Idaho, this fairly large public school awarded 47 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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 U of I
With a ranking of #24, Laramie County Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region list. This small school is located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and it awarded 15 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at LCCC
Boise State University ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Rocky Mountains Region list. Boise State is a large public school situated in Boise, Idaho. It awarded 97 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Boise State University
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