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Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Colorado

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2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Colorado

7 Colleges
$29,570 Avg Salary
$20,509 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for You

With 1,093 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies is the #15 most popular major in Colorado.

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

The Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Colorado ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 7 schools in Colorado to see which ones offered the best programs for students.

View our full ranking methodology.

2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Colorado

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

Top Colorado Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness

Our 2023 rankings named Colorado State University - Fort Collins the best school in Colorado for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State is a public school with a very large student population.

Parks & Rec majors at Colorado State take out an average of $21,018 in student loans while working on their egree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $343, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Northern Colorado. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Colorado list. Located in the midsize city of Greeley, University of Northern Colorado is a public college with a fairly large student population.

While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at University of Northern Colorado accumulate an average of around $24,625 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $327.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Metropolitan State University of Denver. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Colorado list. MSU Denver is a large public school located in the city of Denver.

After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from MSU Denver carry an average student debtload of $23,739.

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#4

Adams State University

Alamosa, CO

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Adams State University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Colorado list. Adams State is a small public school located in the town of Alamosa.

Parks & Rec majors at Adams State take out an average of $24,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

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

Out of the 7 schools in Colorado that were part of this year’s ranking, Western Colorado University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Western is a small public school located in the remote town of Gunnison.

After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Western carry an average student debtload of $22,735. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $270.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Colorado University

#6

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO

Colorado Mesa University landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Grand Junction, Colorado Mesa is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.

Parks & Rec majors at Colorado Mesa take out an average of $25,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $222.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Colorado Mesa University

#7

Fort Lewis College

Durango, CO

Fort Lewis College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the distant town of Durango, FLC is a public school with a small student population.

The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at FLC take out is $16,007.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Fort Lewis College

Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Region

Explore all the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges in the Rocky Mountains Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Utah 1,178
Montana 94
Idaho 249
Wyoming 126

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

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 7 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.

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