2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
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 123 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 the The Plains States Region
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
University Of St Thomas Minnesota is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Kansas one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Lawrence. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Kansas awarded about 314 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 Kansas generally make around $33,891. Students borrow a median of $22,125 to complete this degree.
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Saint Louis University Main Campus 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 Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Saint Louis University Main Campus graduates 80% of students within six years. About 100 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $65,599 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,316.
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University Of Missouri Columbia is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 167 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $38,725 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #5. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 109 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $36,050 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,064 to complete this degree.
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Drake University placed #6 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Des Moines. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. Drake University awarded about 11 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $56,228 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,273.
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University Of Iowa landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Iowa awarded about 619 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $32,737 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,863.
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Iowa State University landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. Iowa State University awarded about 210 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $36,492 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,425.
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University Of South Dakota ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This large public university is located in the town of Vermillion. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 101 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of South Dakota in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $51,566 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,322 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth earned the #10 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 84 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Duluth generally make around $33,055. Typical student debt for the program is $23,629.
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University Of North Dakota earned the #11 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. University Of North Dakota 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 North Dakota earn around $64,378 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,110.
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Hamline University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. There were roughly 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Hamline University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Hamline University generally make around $48,679. Hamline University graduates carry a median of $25,530 in student loans.
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North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #13 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 59 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from North Dakota State University Main Campus earn around $36,646 in the first couple years of their career. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Minnesota State University Mankato placed #14 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. There were roughly 158 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Minnesota State University Mankato earn around $42,351 in the first couple years of their career. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $24,936 in student loans.
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University Of Northern Iowa placed #15 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 136 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $37,949 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,538.
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Bethel University Minnesota ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Bethel University Minnesota awarded about 36 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $31,919 in their early career. Bethel University Minnesota graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans.
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Mount Mercy University landed the #17 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Mount Mercy University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 18 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Mount Mercy University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mount Mercy University generally make around $50,431. Students borrow a median of $27,709 to complete this degree.
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Augustana College South Dakota came in at #18 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Sioux Falls. Augustana College South Dakota graduates 73% of students within six years. Augustana College South Dakota awarded about 36 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Augustana College South Dakota generally make around $50,088. Augustana College South Dakota graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans.
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Rockhurst University landed the #19 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 74% of students finish within six years. Rockhurst University awarded about 44 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Rockhurst University earn around $70,849 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Winona State University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Winona State University awarded about 65 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Winona State University earn around $41,655 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,431.
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Missouri State University Springfield placed #21 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 150 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $29,758 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree.
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Maryville University Of Saint Louis placed #22 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 61 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $32,480 early in their careers. Maryville University Of Saint Louis graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Pittsburg State University placed #23 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Pittsburg State University graduates 51% of students within six years. About 61 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Pittsburg State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $36,360 in their early career. Pittsburg State University graduates carry a median of $24,758 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 20 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $53,079 in their early career. University Of Missouri St Louis graduates carry a median of $25,943 in student loans.
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Doane College Crete placed #25 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Crete, Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Doane College Crete in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $53,500 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,802 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 123 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.