2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in West Virginia
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.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 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 West Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education in West Virginia.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies
West Virginia University tops our 2027 ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Morgantown. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. West Virginia University awarded about 181 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $30,145. West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes American Public University System one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. American Public University System graduates 47% of students within six years. About 688 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at American Public University System in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of American Public University System earn a median of $55,491 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,312 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #3 makes University Of Charleston one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. University Of Charleston is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. About 44% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Charleston in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $64,407 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,646 to complete this degree.
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Marshall University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Huntington, Marshall University is a large public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 64 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Marshall University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $20,682 in their early career. Marshall University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
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Fairmont State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Fairmont, Fairmont State University is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Fairmont State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Fairmont State University earn around $30,833 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree.
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Wheeling Jesuit University placed #6 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Wheeling, Wheeling Jesuit University is a small private not-for-profit university. About 23% of students finish within six years. About 15 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Wheeling Jesuit University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Wheeling Jesuit University earn a median of $38,212 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Davis And Elkins College landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Elkins, Davis And Elkins College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. Davis And Elkins College awarded about 25 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Davis And Elkins College earn a median of $71,201 early in their careers. Davis And Elkins College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Shepherd University came in at #8 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 13 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Shepherd University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Shepherd University generally make around $34,287. Students borrow a median of $24,950 to complete this degree.
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West Virginia Wesleyan College earned the #9 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Buckhannon. West Virginia Wesleyan College graduates 57% of students within six years. About 16 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at West Virginia Wesleyan College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from West Virginia Wesleyan College generally make around $24,526. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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West Liberty University earned the #10 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. West Liberty University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of West Liberty. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. West Liberty 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 $24,139 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
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West Virginia State University landed the #11 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. West Virginia State University is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Institute. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. There were roughly 40 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at West Virginia State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $37,970 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,501.
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Glenville State College placed #12 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public institution. About 35% of students finish within six years. Glenville State College awarded about 21 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Glenville State College generally make around $25,138. Typical student debt for the program is $29,072.
See the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program report for Glenville State College
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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 · 12 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.
