2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in North Carolina
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management in North Carolina
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 facilities management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management
No school ranked higher than North Carolina State University At Raleigh this year for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 68 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management students who graduated with this degree at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree from North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn around $41,617 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program report for North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Students looking for a strong parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program will find one at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. There were roughly 36 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $31,873. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Appalachian State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools. Appalachian State University is a very large public school located in the town of Boone. About 74% of students finish within six years. Appalachian State University awarded about 67 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program make about $29,646 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,706.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management from Appalachian State University
A rank of #4 makes Lees Mcrae College one of the top schools for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management. Set in the rural area of Banner Elk, Lees Mcrae College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Lees Mcrae College graduates 42% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management students who graduated with this degree at Lees Mcrae College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree from Lees Mcrae College earn around $40,268 in the first couple years of their career. Lees Mcrae College graduates carry a median of $19,821 in student loans.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program report for Lees Mcrae College
Students looking for a strong parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program will find one at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro, which ranked #5. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 12 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program make about $42,595 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Western Carolina University placed #6 among the best parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 31 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management students who graduated with this degree at Western Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree from Western Carolina University earn around $30,485 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,252 to complete this degree.
Get the full parks, recreation & leisure facilities management details for Western Carolina University
Chowan University landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Murfreesboro. Chowan University graduates 30% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management students who graduated with this degree at Chowan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program make about $30,165 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $32,131 to complete this degree.
Get the full parks, recreation & leisure facilities management details for Chowan University
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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 · 14 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.
