2026 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Arkansas
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies programs.
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 Arkansas
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 John Brown University this year for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Siloam Springs. John Brown University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 27 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at John Brown University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from John Brown University earn around $50,420 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,216.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Arkansas one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Fayetteville. University Of Arkansas graduates 70% of students within six years. About 96 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Arkansas earn around $36,080 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,516 to complete this degree.
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Harding University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #3. Set in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 54 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Harding University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Harding University generally make around $29,178. Harding University graduates carry a median of $26,054 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Arkansas State University Main Campus one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Jonesboro. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arkansas State University Main Campus awarded about 207 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $43,319 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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University Of Central Arkansas is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #5. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 128 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Central Arkansas in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Central Arkansas earn around $38,372 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Arkansas At Monticello landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Monticello, University Of Arkansas At Monticello is a mid-sized public university. University Of Arkansas At Monticello graduates 38% of students within six years. There were roughly 40 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arkansas At Monticello in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Arkansas At Monticello earn around $29,213 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
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Southern Arkansas University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Magnolia, Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus graduates 44% of students within six years. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus 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 Southern Arkansas University Main Campus earn around $38,612 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,169 to complete this degree.
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Arkansas Tech University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. Arkansas Tech University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 24 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Arkansas Tech University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Arkansas Tech University earn a median of $35,073 early in their careers. Arkansas Tech University graduates carry a median of $23,726 in student loans.
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Lyon College came in at #9 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Lyon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Batesville. Lyon College graduates 47% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Lyon College in the most recent data year.
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Ouachita Baptist University came in at #10 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Arkadelphia. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 21 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Ouachita Baptist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Ouachita Baptist University earn around $31,385 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,672.
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Williams Baptist College landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Walnut Ridge. Williams Baptist College graduates 26% of students within six years. About 16 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Williams Baptist College in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Williams Baptist College earn a median of $31,309 early in their careers. Williams Baptist College graduates carry a median of $18,933 in student loans.
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Central Baptist College earned the #12 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Central Baptist College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Conway. Central Baptist College graduates 35% of students within six years. Central Baptist College awarded about 16 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $44,780 in their early career. Central Baptist College graduates carry a median of $46,694 in student loans.
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Henderson State University came in at #13 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Arkadelphia, Henderson State University is a mid-sized public institution. Henderson State University graduates 37% of students within six years. Henderson State University awarded about 31 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $37,992 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.