2023 Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in California
161
Ranked Colleges
11,772
Degrees Awarded
$27,400
Avg Cost*
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 “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California” 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 California, there were 11,772 parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,218 and $19,856 respectively.
For this year’s “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California” ranking, we looked at 161 colleges that offer a degree in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies. This ranking identifies schools that graduate the most students in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The parks & rec school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California”.
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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California
The colleges and universities below are the best for california parks & rec students.
Top 26 Most Popular Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in California
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Fullerton. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. Cal State Fullerton is a large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 581 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Full California State University - Fullerton Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mt. San Antonio College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. Walnut, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 521 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mt. San Antonio College
Out of the 161 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Northridge landed the #3 spot on the list. Northridge, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 495 students in 2020-2021.
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%.
Full CSUN Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Long Beach. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. This large school is located in Long Beach, California, and it awarded 491 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California State University - Long Beach
Out of the 161 schools in the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 454 degrees to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at San Diego State University
Concordia University, Irvine ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. Irvine, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 438 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Irvine
California State University - Sacramento did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. Sac State is a large public school situated in Sacramento, California. It awarded 404 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Sac State Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
College of the Canyons came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Located in Santa Clarita, California, this fairly large public school awarded 372 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at College of the Canyons
California State University - Los Angeles landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 339 ’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 California State University - Los Angeles
California State University - Chico came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Chico, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 325 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Chico State
California State University - Fresno came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. California State University - Fresno is a large public school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 323 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Fresno State
San Jose State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. San Jose, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 290 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at San Jose State University
California Baptist University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. California Baptist University is a fairly large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 280 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 California Baptist University
With a ranking of #14, San Francisco State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. SFSU is a large public school situated in San Francisco, California. It awarded 274 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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 full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at San Francisco State University
California State University - East Bay came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. California State University - East Bay is a public institution located in Hayward, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 239 ’s 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%.
Full California State University - East Bay Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in San Luis Obispo, California, and it awarded 227 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #17, California State University - San Bernardino did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. Located in San Bernardino, California, this fairly large public school awarded 202 diplomas to qualified ’s parks and rec students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. 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 California State University - San Bernardino Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 201 ’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 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Cal Poly Pomona
California State University - San Marcos came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 183 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California State University - San Marcos
With a ranking of #20, Riverside City College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. Riverside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 179 students in 2020-2021.
Full Riverside City College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
California State University - Dominguez Hills landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Carson, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 163 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%.
Full California State University - Dominguez Hills Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
Cabrillo College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California ranking. Cabrillo College is a medium-sized public school situated in Aptos, California. It awarded 161 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Cabrillo College Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Report
With a ranking of #23, California State University - Monterey Bay did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. California State University - Monterey Bay is located in Seaside, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 154 ’s parks and rec degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 California State University - Monterey Bay
With a ranking of #24, University of San Francisco did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 153 ’s parks and rec degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of San Francisco
With a ranking of #25, Humboldt State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Parks & Rec Major in California list. Arcata, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s parks and rec degrees to 129 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Humboldt State University
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