2026 Best Parks Recreation Fitness Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Parks Recreation Fitness associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1489 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build 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 Fitness Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
International Sports Sciences Association tops our 2026 ranking of the best Parks Recreation Fitness associate's degree schools in the United States. Set in Carpinteria, CA, International Sports Sciences Association is a private for-profit institution. International Sports Sciences Association posts a six-year graduation rate of 10%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,265. Graduates carry a median of $12,917 in student loans. Read the full report on International Sports Sciences Association
You'll be in good company at The University Of Findlay, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Findlay, OH, The University Of Findlay is a private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $41,164. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. See the full The University Of Findlay profile
The strong Parks Recreation Fitness programs at University Of The Cumberlands earned it the #3 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Williamsburg, KY. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. University Of The Cumberlands Parks Recreation Fitness students take on a median of $22,630 in debt. Get the full University Of The Cumberlands report
You'll be in good company at Bob Jones University, which ranked #4 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Greenville, SC. About 64% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,892. Graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Read the full report on Bob Jones University
Out of the 1489 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Mt San Antonio College landed the #5 spot. Mt San Antonio College is a public school based in Walnut, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical Parks Recreation Fitness student debt is $6,865. More on Mt San Antonio College
Utah Valley University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Orem, UT, Utah Valley University is a public institution. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. The median Parks Recreation Fitness program debt is $15,252. Get the full Utah Valley University report
Webber International University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Babson Park, FL. Webber International University posts a six-year graduation rate of 25%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,770. Typical Parks Recreation Fitness student debt is $27,000. Get the full Webber International University report
South Texas College did well this year, earning the #8 position. South Texas College is a public school based in McAllen, TX. South Texas College graduates 20% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,620 for out-of-state students. Typical Parks Recreation Fitness student debt is $4,500. More on South Texas College
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,056. Typical Parks Recreation Fitness student debt is $26,888. Get the full Keiser University Ft Lauderdale report
College Of The Albemarle came in at #10 in this year's ranking. More on College Of The Albemarle
Connors State College did well this year, earning the #11 position. More on Connors State College
Huston Tillotson University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. More on Huston Tillotson University
San Diego City College came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on San Diego City College
Texas A And M University San Antonio ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Fitness schools. See the full Texas A And M University San Antonio profile
Central Texas College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full Central Texas College report
Emory University
Emory University placed #16 among Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Read the full report on Emory University
Luther College
Luther College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Fitness schools. More on Luther College
Washington Adventist University did well this year, earning the #18 position. See the full Washington Adventist University profile
College Of San Mateo came in at #19 in this year's ranking. See the full College Of San Mateo profile
Culver Stockton College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Culver Stockton College
Lubbock Christian University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. See the full Lubbock Christian University profile
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Northwestern State University Of Louisiana
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Get the full Cabrillo College report
Geneva College
Geneva College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Read more about Geneva College
Mohawk Valley Community College landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. More on Mohawk Valley Community College
Rest of the Top 50 Best Parks Recreation Fitness Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Universidad Metropolitana came in at #26 in this year's ranking. See the full Universidad Metropolitana profile
University Of Montevallo came in at #27 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Montevallo profile
Western Oregon University came in at #28 in this year's ranking. See the full Western Oregon University profile
Atlanta Technical College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Atlanta Technical College
Clovis Community College did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Clovis Community College report
College Of Mount St Joseph did well this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full College Of Mount St Joseph report
Eastern Oregon University came in at #32 in this year's ranking. Get the full Eastern Oregon University report
Front Range Community College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Front Range Community College
Luzerne County Community College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. More on Luzerne County Community College
Mars Hill College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Mars Hill College
Mesa Community College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Mesa Community College
Minot State University did well this year, earning the #37 position. Get the full Minot State University report
Montana State University Northern landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Montana State University Northern
Oklahoma Baptist University placed #39 among Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Read the full report on Oklahoma Baptist University
Texas Tech University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Fitness schools. More on Texas Tech University
University Of The Pacific came in at #41 in this year's ranking. More on University Of The Pacific
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #42 among Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. Get the full Cincinnati State Technical And Community College report
Southwestern College did well this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Southwestern College report
Union County College placed #45 among Parks Recreation Fitness schools in the United States. More on Union County College
Arkansas Tech University ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Get the full Arkansas Tech University report
California State University Chico landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. More on California State University Chico
Gavilan College
Gavilan College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Parks Recreation Fitness schools. Read the full report on Gavilan College
Hannibal Lagrange College came in at #49 in this year's ranking. More on Hannibal Lagrange College
Mayville State University did well this year, earning the #50 position. See the full Mayville State University profile
Related Parks Recreation Fitness Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Parks Recreation Fitness Schools (All Levels)
- Best Parks Recreation Fitness Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Fitness Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Fitness Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Parks Recreation Fitness Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 1489 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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