2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Virginia
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for You
With 1,729 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies is the #18 most popular major in Virginia.
When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for students. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.
The Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Virginia ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 11 schools in Virginia to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Virginia
Check out the parks and rec programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top 10 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools
Our analysis found University of Virginia - Main Campus to be the best school for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who want to pursue a degree in Virginia. University of Virginia is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville.
Parks & Rec majors at University of Virginia take out an average of $20,750 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Virginia - Main Campus Report
Request Information
The excellent programs at Shenandoah University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in Virginia. Shenandoah is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Winchester.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Shenandoah accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Shenandoah University Report
Request Information
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means James Madison University is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, JMU is a public school with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at JMU accumulate an average of around $21,500 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $335.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at James Madison University Report
Request Information
Out of the 11 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, George Mason University landed the # 4 spot on the list. GMU is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Fairfax.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from GMU carry an average student debtload of $22,351.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at George Mason University
Request Information
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Old Dominion University is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Old Dominion is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Old Dominion accumulate an average of around $25,063 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $205, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Old Dominion University
Request Information
Roanoke College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Salem, Roanoke is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
Parks & Rec majors at Roanoke take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $300.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Roanoke College
Request Information
Radford University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in the suburb of Radford, Radford is a public college with a moderately-sized student population.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Radford take out is $26,239. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $166.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Radford University
Request Information
Hampton University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Virginia list. Located in the medium-sized city of Hampton, Hampton is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Hampton accumulate an average of around $26,000 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 $1,000.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Hampton University Report
Request Information
With a ranking of #9, Liberty University did quite well on this year’s best schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Liberty University carry an average student debtload of $26,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $435.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Liberty University Report
Request Information
Randolph College landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Randolph is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.
Parks & Rec majors at Randolph take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Randolph College Report
Request InformationBest Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges in the Southeast Region
Explore all the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| North Carolina | 3,436 |
| West Virginia | 1,238 |
| South Carolina | 1,339 |
| Florida | 2,340 |
| Arkansas | 1,012 |
| Mississippi | 1,128 |
| Tennessee | 2,462 |
| Louisiana | 703 |
| Alabama | 959 |
| Kentucky | 1,141 |
| Georgia | 1,981 |
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Rankings in Virginia
Rankings in Majors Related to Parks & Rec
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 |
Most Popular Related Majors
| 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 11 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.
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.