2026 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in California
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 168 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies
San Jose State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 302 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 169 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 $30,758 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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A rank of #3 makes California State Polytechnic University Pomona one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. About 193 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn around $28,364 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Sacramento awarded about 370 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $31,954. Students borrow a median of $18,180 to complete this degree.
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Pepperdine University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 70 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $34,388 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,336 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Francisco came in at #6 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 121 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $36,342 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,905 to complete this degree.
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Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 74 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $49,053 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,542.
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California State University Long Beach landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 384 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $35,752 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,550.
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University Of The Pacific ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Stockton. University Of The Pacific graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 52 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of The Pacific in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $77,022. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of La Verne placed #10 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. University Of La Verne awarded about 68 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $35,364 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University placed #11 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 427 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $26,334 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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California State University Fresno ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. California State University Fresno awarded about 354 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $26,947 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,307.
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California State University East Bay placed #13 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 165 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $33,253. Students borrow a median of $18,306 to complete this degree.
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Sonoma State University earned the #14 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Sonoma State University awarded about 95 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of $33,022 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,628 to complete this degree.
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Saint Marys College Of California ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 54 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $49,447 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,300.
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California State University Monterey Bay placed #16 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 145 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from California State University Monterey Bay earn around $29,929 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Bernardino came in at #17 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University San Bernardino awarded about 258 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $29,143 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University came in at #18 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 165 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $26,180 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,481 to complete this degree.
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California Lutheran University came in at #19 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California Lutheran University awarded about 58 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of California Lutheran University earn a median of $33,818 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University Northridge ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 351 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $36,457 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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California State University Fullerton placed #21 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 633 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $28,342 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,481 to complete this degree.
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Santa Rosa Junior College placed #22 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. There were roughly 58 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $80,047 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
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Shasta College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Redding. Shasta College awarded about 170 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Shasta College earn around $50,330 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete this degree.
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Concordia University Irvine earned the #24 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 287 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of $43,152 early in their careers. Concordia University Irvine graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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California State University Los Angeles landed the #25 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 241 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from California State University Los Angeles earn around $28,687 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education:
Honorable Mentions
These schools earned honorable mentions for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies:
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 168 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
