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by our College Data Analytics Team
This year's Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in the Southeast Region ranking analyzed 110 colleges that offered a bachelor's degree in parks & rec. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies programs, but they also offer a lot of support to non-traditional students.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies program at the school, affordability, and presence of non-traditional students. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
As a non-traditional student, you have a lot to consider when it comes to choosing an education. That's why we've developed rankings specifically for you. Check out more major-related rankings here..
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.
Check out the parks & rec programs at these schools if you want to see which ones are the best for non-traditional students.
Johnson & Wales University - Charlotte landed the #2 spot in our 2021 best parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies schools for non-traditional students. Located in the city of Charlotte, JWU Charlotte is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population. JWU Charlotte also took the #3 spot in our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region rankings.
The student loan default rate at JWU Charlotte is lower than is typical, just 1.5% of students default in three years. There are approximately 101 students at JWU Charlotte that take at least one class online. 31 of JWU Charlotte students are attending part time.
University of Florida landed the #3 spot in our 2021 best parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies schools for non-traditional students. UF is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. UF also made our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list, coming in at #1.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 0.9%. Approximately 22,865 students take at least one class online at UF. There are roughly 11,205 part time students in attendance at UF.
Our rankings recognize University of North Alabama as the #4 school in this year's rankings. UNA is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Florence. UNA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 4.0%. 3,305 of UNA students are exclusively distance learners. 3,399 students are part time.
North Carolina State University landed the #5 spot in our 2021 best parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies schools for non-traditional students. NC State is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. NC State not only placed well in our non-traditional rankings. It is also #2 on our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list.
The student loan default rate at NC State is lower than is typical, just 1.0% of students default in three years. There are approximately 14,604 students at NC State that take at least one class online. 7,732 students are part time.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at North Carolina State University Report
Our rankings recognize Clemson University as the #6 school in this year's rankings. Clemson is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. In addition to being on our best for non-traditional students list, Clemson has also earned the #4 rank in our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region ranking.
The student loan default rate at Clemson is lower than is typical, just 0.6% of students default in three years. There are approximately 11,161 students at Clemson that take at least one class online. About 3,412 of the students at Clemson are attending part time.
Old Dominion University earned the #7 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion is a public college with a very large student population. Old Dominion excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list.
About 1.7% of Old Dominion students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. 9,358 of Old Dominion students are exclusively distance learners. About 7,868 of the students at Old Dominion are attending part time.
University of North Carolina at Wilmington earned the #8 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the midsize city of Wilmington, UNCW is a public college with a fairly large student population. UNCW not only placed well in our non-traditional rankings. It is also #8 on our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list.
The student loan default rate at UNCW is lower than is typical, just 1.6% of students default in three years. Approximately 8,583 students take at least one class online at UNCW. There are roughly 4,896 part time students in attendance at UNCW.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro earned the #9 spot in our 2021 rankings. UNC Greensboro is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Greensboro. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UNC Greensboro also is in the top 15% of our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region ranking.
The student loan default rate at UNC Greensboro is lower than is typical, just 2.7% of students default in three years. There are approximately 10,689 students at UNC Greensboro that take at least one class online. There are roughly 4,738 part time students in attendance at UNC Greensboro.
The #10 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Florida State University. Located in the medium-sized city of Tallahassee, Florida State is a public school with a very large student population. As a testament to the quality of education offered at Florida State, the school also landed the #6 rank in our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region ranking.
The student loan default rate at Florida State is lower than is typical, just 1.0% of students default in three years. Approximately 20,172 students take at least one class online at Florida State. 8,311 of Florida State students are attending part time.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida State University
West Virginia University landed the #11 spot in our 2021 best parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies schools for non-traditional students. Located in the city of Morgantown, WVU is a public college with a fairly large student population. In addition to being on our bet for non-traditional students list, WVU is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list.
About 2.9% of WVU students default on their loans in three years, which is lower than average. Approximately 11,100 students take at least one class online at WVU. There are roughly 3,190 part time students in attendance at WVU.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at West Virginia University
Eastern Kentucky University comes in at #12 in this year's ranking. Eastern is a large public school located in the town of Richmond.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 2.9%. Approximately 5,888 students take at least one class online at Eastern. There are roughly 4,026 part time students in attendance at Eastern.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Eastern Kentucky University Report
Florida International University earned the #13 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the large suburb of Miami, FIU is a public school with a very large student population. FIU excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 2.0%. Approximately 21,632 students take at least one class online at FIU. 22,664 students are part time.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida International University Report
The #14 spot in this year's ranking belongs to Middle Tennessee State University. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro. Middle Tennessee State University excels when it comes to major quality. It's ranked in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 2.3%. There are approximately 7,472 students at Middle Tennessee State University that take at least one class online. There are roughly 5,576 part time students in attendance at Middle Tennessee State University.
Our rankings recognize Appalachian State University as the #15 school in this year's rankings. Located in the distant town of Boone, Appalachian State is a public school with a fairly large student population. Appalachian State also claimed a spot on our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list. It's in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
The student loan default rate at Appalachian State is lower than is typical, just 1.3% of students default in three years. Approximately 10,639 students take at least one class online at Appalachian State. About 2,303 of the students at Appalachian State are attending part time.
East Carolina University earned the #16 spot in our 2021 rankings. Located in the city of Greenville, ECU is a public college with a very large student population. ECU also claimed a spot on our Best Colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region list. It's in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
The school has a low student loan default rate of 1.7%. Approximately 12,522 students take at least one class online at ECU. 7,199 of ECU students are attending part time.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at East Carolina University Report
Here are some additional great schools for Southeast Region non-traditional students studying Parks & Rec that almost earned our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges for Non-Traditional Students in the Southeast Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA |
| 18 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR |
| 19 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC |
| 20 | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY |
| 21 | American Public University System | Charles Town, WV |
| 22 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
Explore the best for non-traditional students parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies schools for a specific state in the Southeast region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | 3,089 |
| Mississippi | 890 |
| Florida | 1,760 |
| Virginia | 1,296 |
| Alabama | 743 |
| Georgia | 1,646 |
| Tennessee | 2,175 |
| West Virginia | 1,002 |
| South Carolina | 1,116 |
| Louisiana | 551 |
| Kentucky | 861 |
| Arkansas | 720 |
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|
Footnotes
*Avg Cost is for the top 25 schools only.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
