2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies 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 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Our analysis looked at 1,450 schools in the United States to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools in the United States
The colleges and universities below are the most popular for parks and rec majors pursuing a .
Top 25 Most Popular Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness
Our analysis found American Public University System to be the most popular school for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Charles Town.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at American Military University accumulate an average of around $21,148 in student debt.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. Iowa is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Iowa City.
On average, parks and rec graduates from Iowa take out $23,417 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $409, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Iowa
Out of the 1,450 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the # 3 spot on the list. Texas A&M College Station is a very large public school located in the midsize city of College Station.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Texas A&M College Station take out is $19,500. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $345, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas A&M University - College Station Report
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Indiana University - Bloomington is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. IU Bloomington is a very large public school located in the small city of Bloomington.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at IU Bloomington accumulate an average of around $20,000 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $437.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Indiana University - Bloomington Report
The excellent programs at Texas State University helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in the United States. Texas State is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Texas State accumulate an average of around $22,688 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 $289.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Texas State University
California State University - Fullerton came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public school with a fairly large student population.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Cal State Fullerton take out is $15,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $196.
With a ranking of #7, University of Memphis did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. UofM is a very large public school located in the city of Memphis.
Parks & Rec majors at UofM take out an average of $28,671 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $176, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Memphis
Mt. San Antonio College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt. SAC is a public college with a fairly large student population.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Mt. SAC carry an average student debt load of $7,677.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mt. San Antonio College Report
The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the large city of San Antonio, UTSA is a public school with a very large student population.
On average, parks and rec graduates from UTSA take out $23,718 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $126.
With a ranking of #10, California State University - Northridge did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. CSUN is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Northridge.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at CSUN accumulate an average of around $16,000 in student debt.
California State University - Long Beach landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the large city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public school with a very large student population.
Parks & Rec majors at CSULB take out an average of $16,625 in student loans while working on their egree.
University of Houston landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. UH is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Houston.
Parks & Rec majors at UH take out an average of $22,250 in student loans while working on their egree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $205.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Houston
Rutgers University - New Brunswick landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Rutgers New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Rutgers New Brunswick carry an average student debt load of $25,913. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $313.
San Diego State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #14 on the list. SDSU is a very large public school located in the large city of San Diego.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at SDSU take out is $17,793. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $241.
Michigan State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Michigan State is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing.
After completing their degree, parks and rec graduates from Michigan State carry an average student debt load of $25,926. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $408.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Michigan State University
With a ranking of #16, Concordia University, Irvine did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.
On average, parks and rec graduates from Concordia University, Irvine take out $26,000 in student loans while working on their degree. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $602.
Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #17 on the list. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of River Forest.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Concordia University, Chicago take out is $26,250.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago Report
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in the city of Knoxville, UT Knoxville is a public college with a very large student population.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at UT Knoxville take out is $22,659. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $391.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville Report
California State University - Sacramento came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Sac State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Sacramento.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at Sac State take out is $18,455. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $199, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Liberty University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #20 on the list. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at Liberty University accumulate an average of around $26,000 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $435.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Liberty University Report
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in the small city of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill is a public college with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at UNC Chapel Hill accumulate an average of around $17,500 in student debt. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $307, based on a 10-year repayment plan.
Georgia Southern University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students. It came in at #22 on the list. GaSou is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Statesboro.
The average amount in student loans that parks and rec majors at GaSou take out is $27,366. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $188.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Georgia Southern University
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list. Located in the city of Edinburg, UT Rio Grande Valley is a public school with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at UT Rio Grande Valley accumulate an average of around $17,000 in student debt.
Arizona State University - Tempe came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in the city of Tempe, ASU - Tempe is a public college with a very large student population.
While working on their degree, parks and rec majors at ASU - Tempe accumulate an average of around $23,467 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $453, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Utah came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. U of U is a very large public school located in the medium-sized city of Salt Lake City.
Parks & Rec majors at U of U take out an average of $21,061 in student loans while working on their egree.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Utah Report
Rest of the Top 50 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This list represents the remainder of the schools awarded a Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 1450 different United States parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools we analyzed.
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools award.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies by Region
View the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
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 |
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.
- 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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