2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor's Degree School for You
Out of all the majors we analyze each year, parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies was ranked #15 in the country. In fact 73,813 degrees and certificates were handed out in 2020-2021.
With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. 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 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 165 schools in the Great Lakes Region to see which bachelor's degree 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.
2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Check out the parks and rec bachelor's degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the Great Lakes Region .
Top 15% Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor's Degree Schools
Our 2023 rankings named Indiana University - Bloomington the most popular school in the Great Lakes Region for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. IU Bloomington is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bloomington.
Women make up 50% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
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The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in the Great Lakes Region . Michigan State is a very large public school located in the small city of East Lansing.
Of the 411 students majoring in parks and rec at Michigan State, 29% are male and 71% are female.
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A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Miami University - Oxford is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University - Oxford is a public college with a large student population.
Women make up 42% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
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Out of the 165 schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Valley State University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Allendale, GVSU is a public school with a fairly large student population.
About 57% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 43% are male.
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A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the midsize city of Ann Arbor, U-M is a public college with a very large student population.
Of the 274 students majoring in parks and rec at U-M, 52% are male and 48% are female.
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Central Michigan University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Central Michigan is a large public school located in the distant town of Mount Pleasant.
About 55% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 45% are male.
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Champaign, UIUC is a public college with a very large student population.
Women make up 44% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
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University of Wisconsin - La Crosse did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a bachelor’s degree. It came in at #8 on the list. UW - La Crosse is a fairly large public school located in the city of La Crosse.
Of the 214 students majoring in parks and rec at UW - La Crosse, 53% are male and 47% are female.
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Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State is a public college with a very large student population.
About 31% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 69% are male.
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Bowling Green State University - Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. BGSU is a large public school located in the fringe town of Bowling Green.
Of the 186 students majoring in parks and rec at BGSU, 48% are male and 52% are female.
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With a ranking of #11, Illinois State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the midsize suburb of Normal.
About 49% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 51% are male.
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University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. UIC is a very large public school located in the large city of Chicago.
Women make up 52% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
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Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Women make up 25% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
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University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the large city of Madison, UW - Madison is a public school with a very large student population.
Women make up 73% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
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With a ranking of #15, Purdue University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue is a public school with a fairly large student population.
About 67% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 33% are male.
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With a ranking of #16, Ball State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Muncie, Ball State is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Women make up 54% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
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Indiana State University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Indiana State is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute.
About 43% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 57% are male.
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Western Michigan University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. WMU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo.
Of the 114 students majoring in parks and rec at WMU, 58% are male and 42% are female.
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Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Indianapolis, IUPUI is a public college with a fairly large student population.
About 58% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 42% are male.
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Kent State University at Kent ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Kent State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent.
Of the 111 students majoring in parks and rec at Kent State, 59% are male and 41% are female.
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With a ranking of #21, Carroll University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Carroll U is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waukesha.
Women make up 64% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
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University of Indianapolis ranked #22 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in the city of Indianapolis, UIndy is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.
Of the 102 students majoring in parks and rec at UIndy, 40% are male and 60% are female.
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Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. SIUC is a large public school located in the city of Carbondale.
About 42% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 58% are male.
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With a ranking of #24, Eastern Michigan University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Eastern Michigan is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti.
Of the 97 students majoring in parks and rec at Eastern Michigan, 58% are male and 42% are female.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Eastern Michigan University Report
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Here are some additional popular schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness students in the Great Lakes Region that almost earned our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH |
| 26 | Concordia University, Chicago | River Forest, IL |
| 27 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH |
| 28 | University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI |
| 29 | Eastern Illinois University | Charleston, IL |
| 30 | Trine University | Angola, IN |
| 31 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH |
| 32 | Western Illinois University | Macomb, IL |
| 32 | Northern Illinois University | Dekalb, IL |
Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Colleges by State
Explore the best parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools for a specific state in the Great Lakes region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 1,818 |
| Michigan | 2,279 |
| Ohio | 2,647 |
| Illinois | 2,396 |
| Wisconsin | 1,001 |
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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