2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast 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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 254 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies
Leading the list is Emory University, our #1 school for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. There were roughly 87 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $37,974 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,883 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 332 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data 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. Students borrow a median of $16,575 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at James Madison University, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisonburg. About 80% of students finish within six years. James Madison University awarded about 389 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $40,528 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Florida came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 411 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Florida earn around $44,857 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,707 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 215 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $34,505 early in their careers. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $21,300 in student loans.
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The University Of Alabama came in at #6 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. 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. Typical student debt for the program is $24,496.
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University Of Georgia placed #7 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 399 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Georgia 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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University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 112 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $40,998 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #9 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 357 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of South Carolina Columbia earn around $37,903 in the first couple years of their career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Wake Forest University came in at #10 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 116 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $21,192. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of New Orleans, Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit university. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 77 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Tulane University Of Louisiana in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $53,507 early in their careers. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates carry a median of $22,077 in student loans.
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High Point University came in at #12 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. High Point University awarded about 121 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree.
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Furman University landed the #13 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 41 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Furman University generally make around $36,520. Students borrow a median of $23,764 to complete this degree.
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University Of Central Florida earned the #14 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Orlando. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 441 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $46,398 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,620.
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University Of Miami ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 131 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $46,517 early in their careers. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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Florida State University earned the #16 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 300 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Florida State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $34,630. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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The University Of Tennessee came in at #17 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 553 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 Tennessee earn around $35,175 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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College Of William And Mary earned the #18 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Williamsburg. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 110 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $27,114 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,413.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College placed #19 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 394 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn around $31,956 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Mercer University earned the #20 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 36 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Mercer University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $56,699 in their early career. Mercer University graduates carry a median of $32,463 in student loans.
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Elon University earned the #21 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Elon University awarded about 113 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Elon University earn around $21,440 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,250.
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Virginia Commonwealth University placed #22 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $45,781 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Florida came in at #23 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Jacksonville. University Of North Florida graduates 65% of students within six years. About 78 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of North Florida generally make around $33,364. University Of North Florida graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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Cumberland University landed the #24 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Lebanon. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 58 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Cumberland University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Cumberland University generally make around $47,696. Students borrow a median of $21,902 to complete this degree.
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Lipscomb University landed the #25 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 32 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Students borrow a median of $24,975 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:
- #51 — American Public University System · Charles Town, WV
- #52 — Gardner Webb University · Boiling Springs, NC
- #53 — University Of North Carolina At Wilmington · Wilmington, NC
- #54 — The University Of West Florida · Pensacola, FL
- #55 — Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA
- #56 — Shenandoah University · Winchester, VA
- #57 — University Of Southern Mississippi · Hattiesburg, MS
- #58 — Arkansas State University Main Campus · Jonesboro, AR
- #59 — Roanoke College · Salem, VA
- #60 — Appalachian State University · Boone, NC
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 254 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.