2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Mississippi
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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 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 Mississippi
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education in Mississippi.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies
Leading the list is University Of Mississippi Main Campus, our #1 school for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of University. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates 72% of students within six years. University Of Mississippi Main Campus awarded about 231 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $23,166 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,870.
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Mississippi State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #2. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. Mississippi State University graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 271 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Mississippi State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $34,181 in their early career. Mississippi State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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University Of Southern Mississippi is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 252 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Southern Mississippi in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $41,034 early in their careers. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates carry a median of $23,924 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Mississippi College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Mississippi College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 68 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Mississippi College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mississippi College generally make around $30,193. Mississippi College graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans.
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Northwest Mississippi Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the town of Senatobia, Northwest Mississippi Community College is a large public institution. About 28 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Northwest Mississippi Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Northwest Mississippi Community College earn around $35,001 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,990 to complete this degree.
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Blue Mountain College earned the #6 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Blue Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Blue Mountain. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Blue Mountain College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Blue Mountain College earn around $36,823 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree.
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Holmes Community College placed #7 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Goodman. There were roughly 24 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Holmes Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Holmes Community College generally make around $32,145. Typical student debt for the program is $13,191.
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East Mississippi Community College landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public institution. About 16 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at East Mississippi Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from East Mississippi Community College earn around $34,012 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $9,422.
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Belhaven University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Jackson, Belhaven University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Belhaven University awarded about 62 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Belhaven University generally make around $38,338. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete this degree.
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Mississippi University For Women placed #10 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Columbus, Mississippi University For Women is a mid-sized public university. Mississippi University For Women graduates 47% of students within six years. About 19 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Mississippi University For Women in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mississippi University For Women generally make around $42,756. Typical student debt for the program is $20,825.
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Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #11 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Perkinston. There were roughly 44 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College generally make around $34,214. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College graduates carry a median of $11,653 in student loans.
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William Carey University placed #12 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. William Carey University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hattiesburg. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. William Carey University awarded about 13 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from William Carey University earn around $24,182 in the first couple years of their career. William Carey University graduates carry a median of $22,916 in student loans.
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Mississippi Valley State University landed the #13 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Mississippi Valley State University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Itta Bena. Roughly 27% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Mississippi Valley State University in the most recent year.
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Alcorn State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the rural area of Alcorn State, Alcorn State University is a mid-sized public university. Alcorn State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 20 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Alcorn State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Alcorn State University generally make around $37,028. Typical student debt for the program is $29,000.
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Jackson State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Jackson. About 51% of students finish within six years. About 19 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Jackson State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Jackson State University generally make around $36,104. Jackson State University graduates carry a median of $32,944 in student loans.
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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 · 15 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.