2026 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Kansas
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools to find the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in Kansas
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
No school ranked higher than University Of Kansas this year for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 240 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $33,891 in their early career. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $22,125 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Kansas State University one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. About 71% of students finish within six years. Kansas State University awarded about 27 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $37,083 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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A rank of #3 makes Pittsburg State University one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pittsburg. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Pittsburg State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Pittsburg State University earn around $36,361 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,758.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Emporia State University, which ranked #4. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Emporia. About 56% of students finish within six years. Emporia State 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 Emporia State University earn around $46,440 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Tabor College, which ranked #5. Set in the rural area of Hillsboro, Tabor College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. Tabor College awarded about 22 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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Benedictine College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Atchison. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Benedictine College in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Benedictine College earn a median of $46,255 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,798 to complete this degree.
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Wichita State University earned the #7 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Wichita. About 51% of students finish within six years. Wichita State University awarded about 60 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $34,774. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Baker University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Baldwin City. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Baker University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $62,916 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,554.
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Midamerica Nazarene University landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Midamerica Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Olathe. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 33 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Midamerica Nazarene University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Midamerica Nazarene University earn a median of $63,799 early in their careers. Midamerica Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $25,740 in student loans.
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Mcpherson College came in at #10 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of McPherson. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. Mcpherson College awarded about 15 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Mcpherson College earn around $42,278 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Kansas Wesleyan University earned the #11 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Salina, Kansas Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Kansas Wesleyan University graduates 49% of students within six years. Kansas Wesleyan University awarded about 22 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Kansas Wesleyan University earn a median of $42,094 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,076 to complete this degree.
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Barton County Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Barton County Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Great Bend. There were roughly 11 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Barton County Community College in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Barton County Community College earn a median of $44,536 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,792 to complete this degree.
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Washburn University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn University is a moderately-sized public institution. Washburn University graduates 44% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Washburn University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Washburn University generally make around $25,679. Washburn University graduates carry a median of $27,717 in student loans.
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Southwestern College placed #14 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Winfield, Southwestern College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. Southwestern College awarded about 21 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Southwestern College earn around $58,036 in the first couple years of their career. Southwestern College graduates carry a median of $31,875 in student loans.
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Central Christian College Of Kansas landed the #15 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of McPherson, Central Christian College Of Kansas is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 26% of students finish within six years. Central Christian College Of Kansas awarded about 16 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Central Christian College Of Kansas generally make around $49,979. Central Christian College Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $25,295 in student loans.
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University Of Saint Mary landed the #16 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Leavenworth, University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit institution. University Of Saint Mary graduates 48% of students within six years. About 30 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Saint Mary in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $29,151 in their early career. University Of Saint Mary graduates carry a median of $27,946 in student loans.
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Ottawa University Ottawa came in at #17 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Ottawa, Ottawa University Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. About 45 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Ottawa University Ottawa in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Ottawa University Ottawa earn a median of $30,426 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Friends University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wichita. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 19 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Friends University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Friends University generally make around $24,870. Friends University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
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Sterling College Kansas ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Sterling College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sterling. Roughly 41% of students complete a degree within six years here. Sterling College Kansas 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 Sterling College Kansas earn around $30,086 in the first couple years of their career. Sterling College Kansas graduates carry a median of $27,250 in student loans.
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Bethany College Kansas placed #20 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the rural area of Lindsborg, Bethany College Kansas is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Bethany College Kansas in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Bethany College Kansas earn a median of $28,881 early in their careers. Bethany College Kansas graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 29 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.
