by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 126 U.S. colleges awarded 2,180 degrees and certificates in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 80% of graduates. College Factual ranks 54 schools in its 2027 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,724 one year after completing, rising to $51,970 after four years.
Studying Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management involves the study of Parks, Recreation, And Leisure Facilities Management, General. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Develop And Manage Park Facilities And Other Indoor And Outdoor Recreation And Leisure Facilities. Includes Instruction In Supervising Support Personnel, Health And Safety Standards, Public Relations, And Basic Business And Marketing Principles.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management draws strong interest, with 2,180 degrees awarded annually. 126 colleges award parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degrees, an average of 17 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 165.
By level, the 2,180 awards include 10 certificates, 88 associate degrees, 1,747 bachelor’s degrees, 314 master’s degrees and 16 doctorates.
Women earned 46% of parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,002 of 2,180). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,500) and Hispanic or Latino (245), and international students earned 51.
College Factual ranks 54 schools in its 2027 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools ranking, including 50 for bachelor’s degrees and 12 for master’s degrees. It also ranks parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools within 27 states. In all, 126 colleges offer parks, recreation & leisure facilities management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common parks, recreation & leisure facilities management credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,747 of the 2,180 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to parks, recreation & leisure facilities management call most for Critical Thinking, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Administration and Management and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Problem Sensitivity, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 10 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 88 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,747 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 314 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 16 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, at 41.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 24.0% |
| Some college courses | 10.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.5% |
| Master’s degree | 6.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management, with an average median salary of $145,416; the strongest outlook belongs to Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling, at 4.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Internal Security Manager, Security Program Manager, Museum Security Chief and Cloud Security Manager.
The occupation related to parks, recreation & leisure facilities management with the most projected jobs is Security Managers, at 360,967.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 163,335 | -2.2% |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 141,428 | 4.2% |
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates earn a median $33,724 one year after completing their program, $51,970 after four years and $48,477 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,724 |
| 4 years | $51,970 |
| 5 years | $48,477 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, with a median salary of $170,172.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management has 2 similar majors in the Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness field, which together award 178 degrees a year; the largest are Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management (177) and Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, Other (1). Browse all Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management | 177 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, Other | 1 |
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