2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Minnesota
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies School for You
In 2020-2021, 1,139 degrees and certificates were awarded to parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who went to a Minnesota college or university. This makes it the #15 most popular major in the state.
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.
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 Schools in Minnesota ranking. This report analyzed 18 schools in Minnesota to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in Minnesota
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 2023 rankings named Saint Cloud State University the best school in Minnesota for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the small city of Saint Cloud, St. Cloud State University is a public school with a large student population.
On average, parks and rec graduates from St. Cloud State University take out $27,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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The excellent programs at Bethel University Minnesota helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in Minnesota. Bethel University Minnesota is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Bethel University Minnesota carry an average student debtload of $23,000.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Gustavus Adolphus College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Minnesota list. Gustavus Adolphus is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Saint Peter.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Gustavus Adolphus accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.
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A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Winona State University is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the distant town of Winona, Winona State is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Winona State accumulate an average of around $25,724 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $259, based 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 St Olaf College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Minnesota list. Located in the distant town of Northfield, St. Olaf is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
On average, parks and rec graduates from St. Olaf take out $25,000 in student loans while working on their degree.
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Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State Mankato is a public college with a large student population.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Minnesota State Mankato carry an average student debtload of $26,867.
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Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #7 on this year’s Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in Minnesota list. Located in the suburb of Moorhead, MSU Moorhead is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Parks & Rec majors at MSU Moorhead take out an average of $26,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
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University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #8 on the list. UMN Twin Cities is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Minneapolis.
On average, parks and rec graduates from UMN Twin Cities take out $23,038 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $340.
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Southwest Minnesota State University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Southwest Minnesota State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marshall.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Southwest Minnesota State University carry an average student debtload of $27,000.
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Augsburg University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Augsburg is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis.
Parks & Rec majors at Augsburg take out an average of $27,000 in student loans while working on their egree.
Request InformationBest Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges in the Plains States Region
Explore all the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the Plains States Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Kansas | 710 |
| Iowa | 1,491 |
| South Dakota | 342 |
| Missouri | 1,342 |
| Nebraska | 429 |
| North Dakota | 266 |
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Rankings in Minnesota
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 18 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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