2026 Best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 152 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical Parks Recreation Leisure Studies student debt is $23,447. Read more about University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Out of the 152 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Northern Iowa landed the #2 spot. University Of Northern Iowa is a public school based in Cedar Falls, IA. About 68% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Typical Parks Recreation Leisure Studies student debt is $23,907. Get the full University Of Northern Iowa report
The strong Parks Recreation Leisure Studies programs at University Of Utah earned it the #3 place in the United States. Based in Salt Lake City, UT, University Of Utah is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Typical Parks Recreation Leisure Studies student debt is $22,982. Read more about University Of Utah
Out of the 152 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Northern Arizona University landed the #4 spot. Get the full Northern Arizona University report
The strong Parks Recreation Leisure Studies programs at Sullivan County Community College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Get the full Sullivan County Community College report
Radford University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Get the full Radford University report
Northwest College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Read the full report on Northwest College
Central Wyoming College placed #8 among Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. More on Central Wyoming College
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Colorado Boulder
Catawba College
Catawba College placed #10 among Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Catawba College
Bethune Cookman University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Bethune Cookman University
Mount Olive College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Get the full Mount Olive College report
San Diego State University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. More on San Diego State University
American River College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. See the full American River College profile
Benedict College
Benedict College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full Benedict College report
Baker University
Baker University placed #16 among Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Baker University
Lake Tahoe Community College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. See the full Lake Tahoe Community College profile
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College did well this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College profile
California State University Chico placed #19 among Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. See the full California State University Chico profile
Holmes Community College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Holmes Community College report
Mohawk Valley Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read more about Mohawk Valley Community College
California State University Fresno did well this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full California State University Fresno report
Alcorn State University landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Alcorn State University
Ohio University Lancaster Campus landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. More on Ohio University Lancaster Campus
Miami University Oxford did well this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Miami University Oxford profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Arizona State University Skysong landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Arizona State University Skysong report
Oklahoma State University Main Campus landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Oklahoma State University Main Campus report
Montgomery College did well this year, earning the #28 position. More on Montgomery College
Montana State University Billings landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Montana State University Billings report
Cuny Kingsborough Community College landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. More on Cuny Kingsborough Community College
University Of Nebraska At Kearney landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Nebraska At Kearney report
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #32 among Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Minnesota Duluth
El Camino Community College District came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Get the full El Camino Community College District report
York College Pennsylvania came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read more about York College Pennsylvania
Niagara County Community College did well this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Niagara County Community College report
Gordon College
Gordon College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Gordon College report
Temple University did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Temple University profile
Eastern Washington University landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Eastern Washington University report
Lindenwood University came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full Lindenwood University report
Newberry College
Newberry College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. Get the full Newberry College report
Spring Arbor University placed #41 among Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Spring Arbor University
Ohio University Main Campus placed #42 among Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Ohio University Main Campus
University Of South Alabama landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of South Alabama
Alaska Pacific University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. More on Alaska Pacific University
Northeast Community College did well this year, earning the #45 position. See the full Northeast Community College profile
University Of Nevada Las Vegas ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. Read more about University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Georgia Southern University ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools. See the full Georgia Southern University profile
Depaul University came in at #48 in this year's ranking. More on Depaul University
California State University Long Beach placed #49 among Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. Read more about California State University Long Beach
University Of Iowa placed #50 among Parks Recreation Leisure Studies schools in the United States. More on University Of Iowa
Related Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 152 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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