2026 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota
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.
College Factual analyzed 41 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in Minnesota
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
Leading the list is University Of St Thomas Minnesota, our #1 school for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 46 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 St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete this degree.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 132 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $36,050. Typical student debt for the program is $23,064.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at University Of Minnesota Duluth, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. About 72 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $33,055 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,629.
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A rank of #4 makes Hamline University one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Hamline University awarded about 14 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $48,679 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,530.
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Winona State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 90 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Winona State University earn around $41,708 in the first couple years of their career. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $25,431 in student loans.
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Bethel University Minnesota landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $31,919 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
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Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. About 162 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $42,277 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,936.
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Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Alexandria. There were roughly 13 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Alexandria Technical And Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $45,368 in their early career. Alexandria Technical And Community College graduates carry a median of $14,054 in student loans.
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Gustavus Adolphus College placed #9 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Gustavus Adolphus College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $38,796 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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St Olaf College landed the #10 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Northfield. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. St Olaf College awarded about 32 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from St Olaf College generally make around $33,577. St Olaf College graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
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Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #11 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Moorhead. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 26 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $38,088 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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Augsburg College placed #12 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Augsburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Augsburg College graduates 52% of students within six years. Augsburg College awarded about 22 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Augsburg College generally make around $37,473. Augsburg College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
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Northwestern College Minnesota came in at #13 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Northwestern College Minnesota awarded about 21 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $30,176 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,562.
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Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earned the #14 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. About 26 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn around $44,387 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete this degree.
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Bemidji State University landed the #15 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a mid-sized public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 39 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Bemidji State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $32,388 in their early career. Bemidji State University graduates carry a median of $24,898 in student loans.
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Crown College landed the #16 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius. About 44% of students finish within six years. About 31 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Crown College in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Crown College earn a median of $42,695 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,537 to complete this degree.
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Southwest Minnesota State University came in at #17 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marshall. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 37 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Southwest Minnesota State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $32,802 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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St Catherine University earned the #18 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, St Catherine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 61% of students finish within six years. St Catherine University awarded about 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from St Catherine University generally make around $60,427. St Catherine University graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans.
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Concordia University Saint Paul placed #19 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Concordia University Saint Paul graduates 45% of students within six years. There were roughly 140 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Saint Paul in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Concordia University Saint Paul earn a median of $39,033 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,156 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 41 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.