2026 Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
There are 152 colleges that offer a degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies. The most popular schools, by student demand, are below:
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies School for You
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies program is right for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you’re no longer limited to schools in your local area.
The Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 152 schools in the United States offering Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies programs. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.
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2026 Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the United States
Check out the Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.
Top 25 Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Our 2026 rankings named Brigham Young University the most popular school in the U.S. for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. Located in Provo, UT, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 125 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $50,157. Full Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Brigham Young University Report
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign landed the #2 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Champaign, IL, this is a public institution. This school awarded 108 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $53,513. Read More…
Indiana University-Bloomington comes in at #3 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. Located in Bloomington, IN, this is a public institution. This school awarded 101 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $48,621. Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Indiana University-Bloomington
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is a public school located in San Luis Obispo, CA. This school awarded 93 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $62,831. Read More…
University of Arkansas landed the #5 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Fayetteville, AR, this is a public institution. This school awarded 78 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $47,767. Read More…
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #6 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Maryville, MO, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 74 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,274. Full Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northwest Missouri State University Report
University of Missouri-Columbia landed the #7 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. University of Missouri-Columbia is a public school located in Columbia, MO. This school awarded 70 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $48,326. Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at University of Missouri-Columbia
California State University-Sacramento landed the #8 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. California State University-Sacramento is a public school located in Sacramento, CA. This school awarded 69 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $42,434. Read More…
California State University-Chico landed the #9 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Chico, CA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 65 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $42,772. Full Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University-Chico Report
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania comes in at #10 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. Located in Kutztown, PA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 60 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $39,923. Read More…
Texas A&M University-College Station comes in at #11 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. Located in College Station, TX, this is a public institution. This school awarded 50 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $54,018. Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Texas A&M University-College Station
California State University-Long Beach landed the #12 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Long Beach, CA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 48 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $38,082. Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University-Long Beach
University of Nebraska at Kearney comes in at #13 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. Located in Kearney, NE, this is a public institution. This school awarded 47 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $43,093. Read More…
Arizona State University Digital Immersion comes in at #14 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. Arizona State University Digital Immersion is a public school located in Scottsdale, AZ. During the most recent year for which we have data, 45 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $48,210. Full Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Arizona State University Digital Immersion Report
Northern Arizona University landed the #15 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Flagstaff, AZ, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 39 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $45,100. Full Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Northern Arizona University Report
University of North Carolina at Greensboro landed the #16 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Greensboro, NC, this is a public institution. This school awarded 35 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $37,785. Read More…
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus landed the #17 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Bowling Green, OH, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 34 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,263. Read full report on Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Pittsburg State University landed the #18 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Pittsburg, KS, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 34 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $45,942. Read More…
University of Utah landed the #19 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. University of Utah is a public school located in Salt Lake City, UT. This school awarded 34 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $52,685. Read More…
California State University-Fresno comes in at #20 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. California State University-Fresno is a public school located in Fresno, CA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 33 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $36,356. Full Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at California State University-Fresno Report
South Georgia Technical College landed the #21 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Americus, GA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 32 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $35,410. Read More…
Western Washington University comes in at #22 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. Located in Bellingham, WA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 32 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $35,723. Read More…
Shepherd University landed the #23 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Shepherd University is a public school located in Shepherdstown, WV. During the most recent year for which we have data, 31 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $43,801. Read More…
California State University-East Bay comes in at #24 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies majors. Located in Hayward, CA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 30 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $47,959. Read More…
Jacksonville State University landed the #25 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking. Located in Jacksonville, AL, this is a public institution. This school awarded 30 degrees in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $42,602. Full Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies at Jacksonville State University Report
Rest of the Top Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for this major that just missed the list above.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies by Region
See the most popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies schools in a specific region of the United States.
| Region |
|---|
| New England |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Great Lakes |
| Plains States |
| Southeast |
| Southwest |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Far Western US |
More Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this Most Popular Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Majors Related to Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 2,155 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 65,261 |
| Recreation Administration | 2,291 |
| Other Parks & Recreation Studies | 355 |
| Outdoor Education | 336 |
References
*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.