2027 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Iowa
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 28 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 Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education in Iowa.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies
Leading the list is Drake University, our #1 school for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at University Of Iowa, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 619 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $32,737. Students borrow a median of $23,863 to complete this degree.
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Iowa State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 210 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Iowa State University earn around $36,492 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,425.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at University Of Northern Iowa, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Northern Iowa awarded about 136 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $37,949 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,538 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Mount Mercy University, which ranked #5. Mount Mercy University is a small private not-for-profit school 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. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Mount Mercy University earn around $50,431 in the first couple years of their career. Mount Mercy University graduates carry a median of $27,709 in student loans.
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Saint Ambrose University came in at #6 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. Saint Ambrose University awarded about 63 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Saint Ambrose University earn around $26,608 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Central College placed #7 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Pella, Central College is a small private not-for-profit university. Central College graduates 66% of students within six years. Central College awarded about 53 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Central College earn a median of $35,914 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Simpson College placed #8 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Indianola. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 23 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Simpson College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Simpson College earn around $38,158 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Dordt College earned the #9 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Sioux Center, Dordt College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Dordt College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Dordt College earn around $54,926 in the first couple years of their career. Dordt College graduates carry a median of $21,812 in student loans.
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Cornell College placed #10 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the town of Mount Vernon, Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Cornell College graduates 62% of students within six years. Cornell College awarded about 41 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Cornell College earn a median of $35,439 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Iowa Western Community College placed #11 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a large public institution. Iowa Western Community College awarded about 28 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $43,444 in their early career. Iowa Western Community College graduates carry a median of $15,153 in student loans.
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Grand View University placed #12 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Grand View University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Grand View University generally make around $43,236. Typical student debt for the program is $26,921.
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Des Moines Area Community College earned the #13 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. About 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Des Moines Area Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Des Moines Area Community College earn around $43,121 in the first couple years of their career. Des Moines Area Community College graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans.
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Kirkwood Community College came in at #14 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. About 13 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Kirkwood Community College earn around $41,681 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,779.
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Coe College landed the #15 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cedar Rapids. Coe College graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 33 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Coe College in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Coe College earn a median of $44,511 early in their careers. Coe College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Waldorf College earned the #16 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the rural area of Forest City, Waldorf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 24% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Waldorf College in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Waldorf College earn a median of $63,346 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,622.
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Buena Vista University came in at #17 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Buena Vista University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Buena Vista University earn a median of $38,356 early in their careers. Buena Vista University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Iowa Lakes Community College placed #18 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Estherville, Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 10 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Iowa Lakes Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $46,937 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,876.
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Northwestern College Iowa placed #19 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Orange City. About 66% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern College Iowa in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Northwestern College Iowa earn around $54,845 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,415.
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Wartburg College landed the #20 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Wartburg College awarded about 34 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Wartburg College earn around $46,918 in the first couple years of their career. Wartburg College graduates carry a median of $26,793 in student loans.
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Luther College earned the #21 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Decorah. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 11 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Luther College in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Luther College earn a median of $42,426 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Loras College landed the #22 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, Loras College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 46 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Loras College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Loras College earn around $31,493 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Clarke University landed the #23 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Dubuque, Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. Clarke University awarded about 19 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Clarke University earn a median of $31,013 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,974.
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University Of Dubuque placed #24 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 40% of students finish within six years. University Of Dubuque awarded about 27 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 Dubuque earn around $37,528 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Dubuque graduates carry a median of $27,560 in student loans.
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Briar Cliff University landed the #25 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. Briar Cliff University awarded about 22 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $61,105 in their early career. Briar Cliff University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 28 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 28 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.