2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 150 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes Region
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
Leading the list is Northwestern University, our #1 school for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. 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. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Northwestern University earn around $58,537 in the first couple years of their career. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 406 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn around $42,490 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,135.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 727 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington 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. Typical student debt for the program is $19,660.
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Ohio State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. There were roughly 290 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $42,137 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 370 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $31,370 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,480.
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Loyola University Chicago landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #7 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. About 282 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $29,866 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Miami University Oxford came in at #8 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Miami University Oxford awarded about 410 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $42,958 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Dayton came in at #9 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Dayton. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. University Of Dayton awarded about 29 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $38,011 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Whitewater placed #10 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 63 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn around $45,767 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans.
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Illinois State University came in at #11 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 202 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $37,258. Typical student debt for the program is $21,400.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #12 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. About 74% of students finish within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 249 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 Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $40,569. Typical student debt for the program is $17,625.
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Ohio University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 224 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $45,383 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Denison University earned the #14 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Granville, Denison University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Denison University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Denison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Denison University generally make around $39,797. Students borrow a median of $25,360 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #15 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 118 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $28,874 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete this degree.
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Michigan State University landed the #16 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Michigan State University graduates 81% of students within six years. About 378 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $37,263. Michigan State University graduates carry a median of $25,788 in student loans.
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Oakland University landed the #17 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Oakland University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $54,785 in their early career. Oakland University graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans.
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Saint Xavier University came in at #18 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 47 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Xavier University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $51,753 in their early career. Saint Xavier University graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin La Crosse placed #19 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of La Crosse. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse awarded about 289 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $37,362 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates carry a median of $23,001 in student loans.
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Adler School Of Professional Psychology earned the #20 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Adler School Of Professional Psychology is a small private not-for-profit university. Adler School Of Professional Psychology awarded about 21 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $55,542 in their early career.
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University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh placed #21 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 23 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #22 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Indianapolis. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 156 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $33,756 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,160.
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Ball State University came in at #23 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Ball State University is a very large public school located in the city of Muncie. About 62% of students finish within six years. Ball State University awarded about 116 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Ball State University generally make around $36,829. Ball State University graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans.
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Elmhurst College landed the #24 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Elmhurst College graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 53 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Elmhurst College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $31,538 in their early career. Elmhurst College graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans.
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Carroll University landed the #25 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Waukesha. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Carroll University awarded about 113 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Carroll University generally make around $33,333. Carroll University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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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:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 150 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.