2026 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Oregon
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools to find the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in Oregon
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education in Oregon.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies
Our analysis ranked Oregon State University the best school in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. Oregon State University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 211 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Oregon State University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $29,880 early in their careers. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $24,155 in student loans.
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George Fox University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Newberg. George Fox University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at George Fox University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from George Fox University earn around $29,842 in the first couple years of their career. George Fox University graduates carry a median of $26,743 in student loans.
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A rank of #3 makes Pacific University one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 47 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Pacific University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Pacific University earn around $26,219 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,848 to complete this degree.
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Eastern Oregon University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Eastern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of La Grande. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. Eastern Oregon University awarded about 76 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Eastern Oregon University generally make around $32,584. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Linfield College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of McMinnville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Linfield College awarded about 53 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Linfield College earn a median of $31,285 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Northwest Christian University came in at #6 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Northwest Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Eugene. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Northwest Christian University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Northwest Christian University earn a median of $62,860 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,735 to complete this degree.
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Corban University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Corban University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Salem. Corban University graduates 61% of students within six years. About 16 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Corban University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Corban University generally make around $41,194. Corban University graduates carry a median of $24,318 in student loans.
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Southern Oregon University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Ashland. Southern Oregon University graduates 42% of students within six years. Southern Oregon University awarded about 59 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Southern Oregon University generally make around $34,979. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Western Oregon University earned the #9 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Western Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Monmouth. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 44 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Western Oregon University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Western Oregon University generally make around $32,249. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
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Portland Community College came in at #10 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Portland, Portland Community College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 25 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Portland Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Portland Community College generally make around $49,580. Portland Community College graduates carry a median of $20,648 in student loans.
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Willamette University landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Salem, Willamette University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Willamette University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Willamette University earn around $41,892 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,343 to complete this degree.
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Warner Pacific College landed the #12 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Portland, Warner Pacific College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Warner Pacific College graduates 49% of students within six years. About 15 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Warner Pacific College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Warner Pacific College earn around $31,903 in the first couple years of their career. Warner Pacific College graduates carry a median of $41,254 in student loans.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 18 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.
