2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools in the The Plains States Region
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management 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.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management in the The Plains States Region
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
Kansas State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation & leisure facilities management schools. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degree from Kansas State University earn around $37,083 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Minnesota State University Mankato is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 20 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program make about $36,220 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management from Minnesota State University Mankato
South Dakota State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, ranking #3. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. South Dakota State University graduates 62% of students within six years. About 18 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degrees were awarded at South Dakota State University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $38,076 early in their careers. South Dakota State University graduates carry a median of $25,093 in student loans.
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Missouri Western State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, landing the #4 spot this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Saint Joseph. About 39% of students finish within six years. Missouri Western State University awarded about 12 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program make about $41,107 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,362.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 15 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.