2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in New York
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.
College Factual analyzed 47 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 New York
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
No school ranked higher than Columbia University In The City Of New York this year for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Columbia University In The City Of New York awarded about 69 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $63,418 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
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Suny College At Oneonta is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #2. Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oneonta. Suny College At Oneonta graduates 69% of students within six years. Suny College At Oneonta awarded about 80 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Suny College At Oneonta earn a median of $36,119 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,600.
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A rank of #3 makes Syracuse University one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 178 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Syracuse University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Syracuse University earn around $34,821 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Manhattan College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #4. Set in the city of Riverdale, Manhattan College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. Manhattan College awarded about 37 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Manhattan College earn around $61,065 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,968 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Saint John Fisher College, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Saint John Fisher College graduates 74% of students within six years. About 45 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Saint John Fisher College generally make around $36,273. Saint John Fisher College graduates carry a median of $23,364 in student loans.
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Farmingdale State College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 46 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Farmingdale State College in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $29,717 early in their careers. Farmingdale State College graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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Wagner College landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Staten Island, Wagner College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Wagner College in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Wagner College earn a median of $80,067 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,997.
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Suny College At Cortland placed #8 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Cortland. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 336 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Suny College At Cortland earn around $37,691 in the first couple years of their career. Suny College At Cortland graduates carry a median of $25,681 in student loans.
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Niagara University came in at #9 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Niagara University, Niagara University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Niagara University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $51,918 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,208 to complete this degree.
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Cuny Brooklyn College landed the #10 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Brooklyn College is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Cuny Brooklyn College awarded about 47 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Cuny Brooklyn College earn a median of $50,584 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $13,629.
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Cuny Lehman College came in at #11 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a large public university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Lehman College in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of $29,583 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,861.
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Hudson Valley Community College landed the #12 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. About 38 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Hudson Valley Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $43,989. Students borrow a median of $12,868 to complete this degree.
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Suny College Of Technology At Alfred placed #13 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Alfred. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 26 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Suny College Of Technology At Alfred in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Suny College Of Technology At Alfred earn around $43,831 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,721.
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Adelphi University landed the #14 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Garden City. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. Adelphi University awarded about 84 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Adelphi University generally make around $37,106. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Utica College came in at #15 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Utica College in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $53,602 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,237.
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Mount Saint Mary College landed the #16 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Newburgh, Mount Saint Mary College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Mount Saint Mary College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mount Saint Mary College generally make around $65,715. Typical student debt for the program is $26,500.
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St Johns University New York ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 88 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at St Johns University New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from St Johns University New York generally make around $36,426. St Johns University New York graduates carry a median of $25,748 in student loans.
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Suffolk County Community College came in at #18 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. About 21 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Suffolk County Community College in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Suffolk County Community College earn a median of $35,667 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,246.
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Houghton College placed #19 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the rural area of Houghton, Houghton College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 22 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Houghton College in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $26,934 in their early career. Houghton College graduates carry a median of $24,725 in student loans.
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Suny At Fredonia placed #20 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Suny At Fredonia is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fredonia. About 50% of students finish within six years. Suny At Fredonia awarded about 25 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Suny At Fredonia earn around $31,013 in the first couple years of their career. Suny At Fredonia graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Canisius College came in at #21 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Buffalo. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Canisius College awarded about 130 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Canisius College earn a median of $35,502 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Suny Westchester Community College earned the #22 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. About 15 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Suny Westchester Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $57,520 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,764.
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Cuny Queens College landed the #23 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Queens. About 53% of students finish within six years. Cuny Queens College awarded about 27 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Cuny Queens College earn a median of $16,236 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete this degree.
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Manhattanville College landed the #24 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Purchase. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 46 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Manhattanville College in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Manhattanville College earn a median of $38,197 early in their careers. Manhattanville College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Suny College At Brockport earned the #25 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brockport. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 179 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Brockport in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $26,313 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,402.
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Rest of the Top 47 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
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 · 47 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.
