2026 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools
There are 1,489 colleges that offer a degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness. Learn more about the most popular schools below:
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness School for You
With all the Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. You can choose a traditional brick-and-mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school halfway across the country without even leaving your house.
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 1,489 schools in the United States offering Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness programs. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.
Featured schools near , edit
2026 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools in the United States
The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools.
Top 25 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools
The most popular school in the United States for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness students is American Public University System. American Public University System is a private for-profit school located in Charles Town, WV. This school awarded 683 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $57,877. Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at American Public University System
Texas A&M University-College Station landed the #2 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Texas A&M University-College Station is a public school located in College Station, TX. This school awarded 682 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $54,018. Read More…
California State University-Fullerton landed the #3 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in Fullerton, CA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 633 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $39,215. Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at California State University-Fullerton Report
University of Iowa landed the #4 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. University of Iowa is a public school located in Iowa City, IA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 578 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $47,110. Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at University of Iowa
Indiana University-Bloomington landed the #5 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Indiana University-Bloomington is a public school located in Bloomington, IN. During the most recent year for which we have data, 539 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $48,621. Read More…
Mt San Antonio College landed the #6 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Mt San Antonio College is a public school located in Walnut, CA. This school awarded 490 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $38,033. Read More…
Texas State University landed the #7 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in San Marcos, TX, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 483 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $42,210. Read More…
University of Memphis comes in at #8 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. Located in Memphis, TN, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 471 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $42,466. Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at University of Memphis Report
University of Central Florida comes in at #9 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. Located in Orlando, FL, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 465 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $41,960. Read More…
University of Florida comes in at #10 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. Located in Gainesville, FL, this is a public institution. This school awarded 464 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $48,898. Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at University of Florida
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville landed the #11 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is a public school located in Knoxville, TN. During the most recent year for which we have data, 438 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $44,937. Read More…
San Diego State University comes in at #12 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. Located in San Diego, CA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 428 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $42,235. Read More…
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #13 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public school located in Chapel Hill, NC. This school awarded 414 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $51,058. Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Report
Liberty University landed the #14 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Liberty University is a private nonprofit school located in Lynchburg, VA. This school awarded 403 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $44,414. Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at Liberty University Report
The University of Texas at San Antonio comes in at #15 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a public school located in San Antonio, TX. This school awarded 393 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,863. Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at The University of Texas at San Antonio Report
California State University-Long Beach comes in at #16 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. Located in Long Beach, CA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 384 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $38,082. Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at California State University-Long Beach
University of Houston landed the #17 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. University of Houston is a public school located in Houston, TX. During the most recent year for which we have data, 384 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $48,424. Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at University of Houston Report
College of the Canyons landed the #18 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in Santa Clarita, CA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 378 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $35,362. Read More…
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor landed the #19 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 377 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $64,597. Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Report
California State University-Sacramento comes in at #20 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. California State University-Sacramento is a public school located in Sacramento, CA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 371 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $42,434. Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at California State University-Sacramento
Concordia University-Chicago comes in at #21 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. Located in River Forest, IL, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 366 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $58,149. Read More…
Georgia Southern University landed the #22 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in Statesboro, GA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 361 degrees in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $43,987. Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness at Georgia Southern University Report
California State University-Fresno comes in at #23 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. Located in Fresno, CA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 354 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $36,356. Read More…
California State University-Northridge comes in at #24 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness majors. California State University-Northridge is a public school located in Northridge, CA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 351 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $36,905. Read More…
Tarleton State University landed the #25 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking. Located in Stephenville, TX, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 345 people earned their degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $45,879. Read More…
Rest of the Top Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools
Additional Noteworthy Schools
Here are some additional great schools for this major that just missed the list above.
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness by Region
View the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools ranking for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| New England |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Great Lakes |
| Plains States |
| Southeast |
| Southwest |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Far Western US |
More Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Majors Related to Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness
Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Concentrations
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 65,261 |
| Recreation Administration | 2,291 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 2,155 |
| Other Parks & Recreation Studies | 355 |
| Outdoor Education | 336 |
References
*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.