2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia
24
Ranked Colleges
1,741
Degrees Awarded
$29,900
Avg Cost*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia” 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 Virginia, there were 1,741 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $31,990 and $25,658 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia” ranking looked at 24 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.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
More Ways to Rank Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
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 Virginia” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia”.
Top 24 Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Virginia
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Bridgewater College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia. Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgewater, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bridgewater
Out of the 24 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Randolph College landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 Randolph College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Emory and Henry College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Emory & Henry College is a small school located in Emory, Virginia that handed out 34 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 Emory & Henry College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Roanoke College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Roanoke is located in Salem, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 41 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
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 Roanoke College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferrum College. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Located in Ferrum, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ferrum College
Averett University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. AU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Danville, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Averett University
With a ranking of #7, Hampton University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Hampton, Virginia, and it awarded 65 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Hampton Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Bluefield College ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Bluefield College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bluefield, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bluefield College
Virginia Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #9. VWU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 23 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Virginia Wesleyan University
James Madison University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and it awarded 326 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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%.
Full JMU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
William & Mary ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. This medium-sized school is located in Williamsburg, Virginia, and it awarded 125 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at William & Mary
Eastern Mennonite University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Eastern Mennonite University is a small school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 12 ’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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Eastern Mennonite University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #13, University of Lynchburg did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. This small school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 26 ’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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Lynchburg
Old Dominion University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Old Dominion is a large school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 142 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Old Dominion Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #15, Longwood University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Farmville, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 25 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% 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 Longwood University
With a ranking of #16, Virginia State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Virginia State is a small school located in Petersburg, Virginia that handed out 14 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Virginia State
Norfolk State University landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Norfolk State is a medium-sized public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 16 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Norfolk State University
With a ranking of #18, Radford University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Radford University is a public institution located in Radford, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Radford Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #19, Liberty University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 403 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Liberty University
Shenandoah University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Shenandoah is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winchester, Virginia. It awarded 21 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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 Shenandoah University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. University of Virginia is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 117 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Full University of Virginia Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
George Mason University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #22. George Mason University is a large school located in Fairfax, Virginia that handed out 113 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at GMU
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia ranking. Located in Richmond, Virginia, this large public school handed out 47 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students 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%.
Full VCU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #24, Northern Virginia Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in Virginia list. Located in Annandale, Virginia, this large public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Full Northern Virginia Community College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
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Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Louisiana
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Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in South Carolina
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Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Virginia
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Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in West Virginia
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Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Kentucky
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Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Tennessee
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Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Florida
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Most Focused Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in Arkansas
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
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