by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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 North Carolina, there were 3,565 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,466 and $26,583 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina” ranking, we looked at 55 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.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. 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 north carolina parks & rec students.
Out of the 55 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Chowan University landed the #1 spot on the list. Chowan University is a small school located in Murfreesboro, North Carolina that handed out 38 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Chowan University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brevard College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Brevard College is located in Brevard, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Full Brevard College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Out of the 55 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Augustine’s University landed the #3 spot on the list. Saint Augustine’s University is a small school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 15 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Saint Augustine’s University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Wingate University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Located in Wingate, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 118 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Livingstone College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina. Livingstone College is a small school located in Salisbury, North Carolina that handed out 15 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Livingstone College
Belmont Abbey College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #6. BAC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Belmont, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 39 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full BAC Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #7, Guilford College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Guilford is a small school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 38 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Guilford
With a ranking of #8, Barton College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Barton College is located in Wilson, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 32 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Barton College
Catawba College ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Catawba is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Salisbury, North Carolina. It awarded 29 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Catawba
With a ranking of #10, Shaw University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Shaw University is a small school located in Raleigh, North Carolina that handed out 20 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Shaw University
Lees - McRae College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Lees - McRae College is located in Banner Elk, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lees - McRae College
Elizabeth City State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking. Elizabeth City, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 29 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at ECSU
Winston - Salem State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #13. WSSU is a medium-sized school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that handed out 105 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at WSSU
With a ranking of #14, Methodist University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Methodist is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 35 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
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 Methodist University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
William Peace University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #15. William Peace University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full WPU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Pfeiffer University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking. Misenheimer, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 28 students 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.
Full Pfeiffer University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
St. Andrews University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking. St. Andrews University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Laurinburg, North Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at St. Andrews University
Lenoir - Rhyne University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Hickory, North Carolina, and it awarded 52 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Lenoir - Rhyne University
With a ranking of #19, Johnson C Smith University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Johnson C Smith University is a small school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 18 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Johnson C Smith University
Greensboro College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Greensboro College
University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking. University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a fairly large school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 314 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full University of North Carolina at Greensboro Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of North Carolina at Pembroke landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking. Pembroke, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 117 students in 2020-2021.
Full UNC Pembroke Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
High Point University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #23. This medium-sized school is located in High Point, North Carolina, and it awarded 75 ’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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at High Point University
With a ranking of #24, Mars Hill University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina list. Mars Hill University is a small school located in Mars Hill, North Carolina that handed out 17 ’s parks and rec 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.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mars Hill University
Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in North Carolina ranking, coming in at #25. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
