Find Affordable College Courses

What Do You Want to Study?

Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools

2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools

294 Colleges
$41,687 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree School for You

In 2020-2021, 73,813 people earned a degree or certificate in parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, making the major the #15 most popular in the United States.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools ranking. This report analyzed 294 schools in the United States to see which ones offered the best master's degree programs for students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the United States

Check out the parks and rec master's degree programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.

Top 25 Top Schools for a Master's in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness

Our analysis found University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to be the best school for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who want to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public school with a very large student population.

Read More…

Request Information

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, SRU is a public school with a medium-sized student population.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Request Information

Out of the 294 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, South Dakota State University landed the # 3 spot on the list. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at South Dakota State University

Request Information

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Columbia University in the City of New York is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Columbia is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Columbia University in the City of New York Report

Request Information
#5

Northwestern University

Evanston, IL

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Northwestern University is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Northwestern University Report

Request Information
#6

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN

Saint Cloud State University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Saint Cloud State University

Request Information

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. University of Virginia is a fairly large public school located in the small suburb of Charlottesville.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Virginia - Main Campus Report

Request Information

North Carolina State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Raleigh, NC State is a public school with a very large student population.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at North Carolina State University Report

Request Information

American Public University System came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at American Public University System Report

Request Information
#10

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. UARK is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville.

Read More…

Request Information

Southern Methodist University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the suburb of Dallas, SMU is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southern Methodist University

Request Information

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #12 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Texas A&M College Station is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of College Station.

Read More…

Request Information

Concordia University, Irvine came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Irvine Report

Request Information
#14

Georgetown University

Washington, DC

Georgetown University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Georgetown is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Washington.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Georgetown University Report

Request Information

University of Wisconsin - River Falls came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the distant town of River Falls, UW - River Falls is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Read More…

Request Information
#16

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the midsize city of Gainesville, UF is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Florida

Request Information

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #17 on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Minneapolis.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Request Information

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public school with a very large student population.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Report

Request Information

Grace College and Theological Seminary came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Grace College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona Lake.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Grace College and Theological Seminary Report

Request Information

Concordia University, Nebraska ranked #20 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Concordia University, Nebraska is a small private not-for-profit school located in the distant town of Seward.

Read More…

Request Information

With a ranking of #21, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well on this year’s best schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the small city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Request Information

Iowa State University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Ames, Iowa State is a public college with a very large student population.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Iowa State University

Request Information
#23

University of Iowa

Iowa City, IA

University of Iowa did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City.

Read More…

Request Information

United States Sports Academy ranked #24 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the small city of Daphne, The Academy is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at United States Sports Academy Report

Request Information

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Report

Request Information

Rest of the Top Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools

#26

Valparaiso University

Valparaiso, IN
#30

Ashland University

Ashland, OH
#33

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA
#34

Clemson University

Clemson, SC
#37

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, CA
#38

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA
#39

Mount St Mary's University

Emmitsburg, MD
#40

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX
#42

Baylor University

Waco, TX
#43

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
45 Seattle University Seattle, WA
46 University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MD
47 West Texas A&M University Canyon, TX
48 Gonzaga University Spokane, WA
49 Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SC
50 University of Miami Coral Gables, FL
51 University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO
52 Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, CO
53 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA
54 Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH
55 Minnesota State University - Mankato Mankato, MN
56 Kean University Union, NJ
57 Washington State University Pullman, WA
58 University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies by Region

View the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

Parks & Rec Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Health & Physical Education 67,146
Recreation Administration 3,122
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 3,106
Outdoor Education 265
Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 174

Majors Similar to Parks & Rec

Related Major Annual Graduates
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting 142,610
Public Administration & Social Service 98,583
Legal Professions 61,055
Military Technologies & Applied Sciences 4,477

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • Read more about our ranking methodology.
  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.