2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in South Carolina
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 23 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 South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education in South Carolina.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies
University Of South Carolina Columbia tops our 2027 ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Carolina Columbia awarded about 357 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $37,903 in their early career. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Furman University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Greenville, Furman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 41 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Furman University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $36,520 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,764.
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A rank of #3 makes Clemson University one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Clemson. Clemson University graduates 87% of students within six years. Clemson University awarded about 220 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $43,718 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,592 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Citadel Military College Of South Carolina one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina awarded about 58 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $43,409 in their early career. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Columbia International University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Columbia International University graduates 46% of students within six years. Columbia International University awarded about 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $32,296 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,667.
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Coastal Carolina University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 287 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Coastal Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $36,399 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,997 to complete this degree.
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Anderson University Sc came in at #7 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Anderson. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Anderson University Sc awarded about 57 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Anderson University Sc generally make around $27,340. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Columbia College South Carolina placed #8 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia College South Carolina is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. About 14 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Columbia College South Carolina in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Columbia College South Carolina earn a median of $48,339 early in their careers. Columbia College South Carolina graduates carry a median of $28,158 in student loans.
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Newberry College came in at #9 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Newberry, Newberry College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Newberry College awarded about 56 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Newberry College earn a median of $33,159 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $28,375 to complete this degree.
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Lander University placed #10 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Lander University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Lander University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 40 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Lander University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $27,155 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,995 to complete this degree.
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Winthrop University came in at #11 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Rock Hill. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Winthrop University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Winthrop University earn a median of $35,704 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Erskine College And Seminary ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Due West. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. Erskine College And Seminary awarded about 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $35,695 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Charleston Southern University earned the #13 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Charleston. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Charleston Southern University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Charleston Southern University earn a median of $26,722 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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North Greenville University earned the #14 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Tigerville. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 25 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at North Greenville University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $27,537 in their early career. North Greenville University graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
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Coker College earned the #15 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Hartsville, Coker College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. Coker College awarded about 36 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Coker College earn a median of $30,333 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,475.
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Southern Wesleyan University placed #16 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Central, Southern Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 19 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Southern Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Southern Wesleyan University earn around $25,785 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,554.
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University Of South Carolina Aiken earned the #17 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. University Of South Carolina Aiken is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Aiken. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of South Carolina Aiken in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of South Carolina Aiken earn around $25,467 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,975.
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Claflin University placed #18 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Claflin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orangeburg. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Claflin University awarded about 30 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Claflin University earn around $22,642 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,425.
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Benedict College earned the #19 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Benedict College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 24% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Benedict College in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Benedict College earn a median of $25,769 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $40,000 to complete this degree.
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South Carolina State University earned the #20 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. South Carolina State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orangeburg. South Carolina State University graduates 37% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at South Carolina State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from South Carolina State University earn around $39,914 in the first couple years of their career. South Carolina State University graduates carry a median of $31,740 in student loans.
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Voorhees College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Denmark. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Voorhees College in the most recent year.
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Allen University earned the #22 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Columbia, Allen University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 13% of students finish within six years. About 23 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Allen University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Allen University earn a median of $23,346 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $39,771 to complete this degree.
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Bob Jones University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 64% of students finish within six years. Bob Jones University awarded about 35 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $32,481. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 23 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.