by our College Data Analytics Team
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking.
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.
Across the Southwest region, there were 10,228 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,393 and $22,734 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 151 colleges that offered a degree 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.
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 Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Jarvis Christian College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Jarvis Christian College is located in Hawkins, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Jarvis Christian College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bryan University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This small school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 329 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bryan University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southwestern Christian University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Bethany, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 13 students in 2020-2021.
Full SCU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Huston - Tillotson University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region. This small school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 34 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Huston - Tillotson University
Out of the 151 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ottawa University - Surprise landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Surprise, Arizona, and it awarded 20 ’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.
Full Ottawa University - Surprise Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Bacone College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Muskogee, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Bacone College
University of the Southwest came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Hobbs, New Mexico, and it awarded 43 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full USW Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #8, Texas Lutheran University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Seguin, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 43 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at TLU
With a ranking of #9, Southeastern Oklahoma State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized school located in Durant, Oklahoma that handed out 187 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southeastern Oklahoma State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Hardin - Simmons University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #10. Hardin - Simmons University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Abilene, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 60 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hardin - Simmons University
East Central University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #11. ECU is a public institution located in Ada, Oklahoma. The school has a small population, and it awarded 90 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Central University
Randall University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Randall University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Moore, Oklahoma. It awarded 5 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Randall Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #13, Sul Ross State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Alpine, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 54 students in 2020-2021.
Full Sul Ross Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Howard Payne University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Howard Payne University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Brownwood, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 ’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.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Howard Payne University
Northwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a small public school situated in Alva, Oklahoma. It awarded 34 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full NWOSU Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Tarleton State University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Stephenville, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 289 students in 2020-2021.
Full Tarleton Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #17, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is a small public school situated in Chickasha, Oklahoma. It awarded 11 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Oral Roberts University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 57 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Oral Roberts University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #19, Schreiner University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Schreiner University is a small school located in Kerrville, Texas that handed out 25 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Schreiner University
East Texas Baptist University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. East Texas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marshall, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 28 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Texas Baptist University
With a ranking of #21, Prescott College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. This small school is located in Prescott, Arizona, and it awarded 23 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Prescot College
Oklahoma Panhandle State University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. OPSU is a small public school situated in Goodwell, Oklahoma. It awarded 25 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Oklahoma Panhandle State University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Texas State University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in San Marcos, Texas, and it awarded 627 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Texas State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Angelo State University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region list. Angelo State University is a public institution located in San Angelo, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 123 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Angelo State
Southern Nazarene University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Parks & Rec Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Bethany, Oklahoma, and it awarded 43 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Southern Nazarene University Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
