Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1037 schools to find the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
Choosing a Great Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies School
Where you study parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Northwestern University tops our 2027 ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. About 95% of students finish within six years. Northwestern University awarded about 57 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $58,537. Typical student debt for the program is $16,616.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 406 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $42,490. Students borrow a median of $19,135 to complete this degree.
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Georgetown University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Georgetown University awarded about 161 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Georgetown University generally make around $54,668. Typical student debt for the program is $16,483.
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George Washington University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 43 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from George Washington University earn around $73,749 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,910 to complete this degree.
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University Of St Thomas Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $65,183 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
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Rice University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Rice University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Rice University earn a median of $51,110 early in their careers. Rice University graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans.
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Emory University came in at #7 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. Emory University graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 87 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $37,974. Students borrow a median of $19,883 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #8 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. About 332 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $39,401 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,575.
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The College Of New Jersey earned the #9 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Ewing. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 51 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from The College Of New Jersey earn around $56,617 in the first couple years of their career. The College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,429 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station placed #10 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 693 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $42,358 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,414.
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James Madison University placed #11 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 389 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $40,528. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
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Indiana University Bloomington placed #12 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. About 80% of students finish within six years. Indiana University Bloomington awarded about 727 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $44,609 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $19,660 in student loans.
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University Of Florida landed the #13 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. About 411 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $44,857 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,707.
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University Of Kansas landed the #14 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. University Of Kansas graduates 69% of students within six years. About 314 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Kansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Kansas earn around $33,891 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,125.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #15 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 215 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $34,505. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,300 in student loans.
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The University Of Alabama ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. The University Of Alabama awarded about 345 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $50,740 in their early career. The University Of Alabama graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #17 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 69 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $63,418. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #18 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates 86% of students within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 182 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn around $30,796 in the first couple years of their career. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates carry a median of $16,658 in student loans.
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Rowan University placed #19 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Rowan University awarded about 20 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $52,031 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,488.
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University Of Maryland College Park ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 228 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $31,403 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,138.
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The University Of Texas At Austin earned the #21 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 376 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $35,583 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,361.
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University Of Georgia landed the #22 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Athens. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 399 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $36,359 early in their careers. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Louis. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Louis University Main Campus awarded about 100 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $65,599 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,316 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arizona placed #24 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. About 53 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Students borrow a median of $21,861 to complete this degree.
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University Of Missouri Columbia placed #25 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 167 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $38,725 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Rest of the Top 50 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1037 schools evaluated.
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).
