2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Florida
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in Florida
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best school in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Florida awarded about 411 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 Florida generally make around $44,857. 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 University Of Central Florida, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. 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. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Central Florida earn around $46,398 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,620.
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University Of Miami came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Coral Gables. About 84% of students finish within six years. University Of Miami awarded about 131 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 Miami generally make around $46,517. University Of Miami graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Florida State University, which ranked #4. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. 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. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $34,630 in their early career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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University Of North Florida is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of North Florida awarded about 78 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $33,364 in their early career. University Of North Florida graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tampa. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. There were roughly 45 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Florida Main Campus in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $34,249 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete this degree.
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Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #7 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Florida Gulf Coast University generally make around $36,002. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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Florida International University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida International University awarded about 112 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $34,860 in their early career. Florida International University graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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University Of Florida Online earned the #9 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Florida Online awarded about 68 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 Florida Online earn around $39,834 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Florida Online graduates carry a median of $19,707 in student loans.
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Florida Atlantic University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 196 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Florida Atlantic University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $40,682 in their early career. Florida Atlantic University graduates carry a median of $20,659 in student loans.
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The University Of Tampa landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Tampa. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 120 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Tampa in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from The University Of Tampa earn around $30,554 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Florida Southern College came in at #12 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 22 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Florida Southern College in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Florida Southern College earn a median of $48,665 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,357 to complete this degree.
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The University Of West Florida ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This large public university is located in the rural area of Pensacola. The University Of West Florida graduates 59% of students within six years. The University Of West Florida awarded about 127 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 West Florida earn around $28,643 in the first couple years of their career. The University Of West Florida graduates carry a median of $22,188 in student loans.
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Florida College came in at #14 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Temple Terrace, Florida College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Florida College graduates 40% of students within six years. Florida College awarded about 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Florida College earn a median of $40,888 early in their careers. Florida College graduates carry a median of $16,134 in student loans.
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Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach placed #15 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 26 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach earn around $54,317 in the first couple years of their career. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Saint Leo University landed the #16 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 20 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Leo University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Saint Leo University earn around $36,962 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Nova Southeastern University placed #17 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Nova Southeastern University awarded about 72 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Nova Southeastern University generally make around $23,136. Students borrow a median of $24,560 to complete this degree.
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Northwest Florida State College earned the #18 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Niceville, Northwest Florida State College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 14 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Florida State College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $48,463 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,566 to complete this degree.
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Flagler College St Augustine ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Flagler College St Augustine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Augustine. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Flagler College St Augustine in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Flagler College St Augustine earn around $29,600 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,547.
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Jacksonville University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Jacksonville University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $40,369 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Southeastern University placed #21 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Southeastern University awarded about 68 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $25,994 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,343.
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Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earned the #22 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 159 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Keiser University Ft Lauderdale in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn around $29,436 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,888.
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Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University landed the #23 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University awarded about 52 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earn a median of $36,850 early in their careers. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University graduates carry a median of $30,494 in student loans.
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Lynn University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boca Raton. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Lynn University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $50,569 in their early career. Lynn University graduates carry a median of $21,391 in student loans.
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Barry University earned the #25 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Barry University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Miami. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 16 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Barry University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $40,439 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,180.
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Rest of the Top 30 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies ranking:
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 30 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.
