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Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

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2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region

271 Colleges
$28,979 Avg Salary
$24,973 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor's Degree School for You

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the #15 most popular major in the country with 73,813 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

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 Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Our analysis looked at 271 schools in the Southeast 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.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Bachelor's Degree Colleges.

#1

University of Memphis

Memphis, TN

Our 2023 rankings named University of Memphis the most popular school in the Southeast Region for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in the city of Memphis, UofM is a public college with a very large student population.

About 72% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 28% are male.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Memphis

The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at American Public University System 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 Southeast Region . Located in the town of Charles Town, American Military University is a private for-profit school with a very large student population.

Of the 473 students majoring in parks and rec at American Military University, 68% are male and 32% are female.

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The in-demand bachelor’s degree programs at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in the Southeast Region . UNC Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill.

Of the 386 students majoring in parks and rec at UNC Chapel Hill, 40% are male and 60% are female.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Report

A rank of #4 on this year’s list means The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. UT Knoxville is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Knoxville.

About 64% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 36% are male.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville

#5

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, GA

Out of the 271 schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Georgia Southern University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the distant town of Statesboro, GaSou is a public college with a very large student population.

About 62% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 38% are male.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Georgia Southern University

#6

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University 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 #6 on the list. JMU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg.

Of the 292 students majoring in parks and rec at JMU, 60% are male and 40% are female.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at James Madison University Report

#7

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS

Mississippi State University 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 #7 on the list. Located in the remote town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State is a public college with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 54% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Mississippi State University

Appalachian State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Women make up 56% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Appalachian State University Report

#9

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR

University of Arkansas landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Fayetteville, UARK is a public school with a very large student population.

Women make up 48% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Read More…

#10

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV

West Virginia University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the small city of Morgantown, WVU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

About 38% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 62% are male.

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With a ranking of #11, University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. UNC Greensboro is a large public school located in the large city of Greensboro.

Of the 250 students majoring in parks and rec at UNC Greensboro, 30% are male and 70% are female.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

#12

University of Georgia

Athens, GA

University of Georgia ranked #12 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the midsize city of Athens, UGA is a public college with a very large student population.

Women make up 50% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

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University of North Carolina at Wilmington came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the city of Wilmington, UNCW is a public college with a large student population.

Of the 244 students majoring in parks and rec at UNCW, 33% are male and 67% are female.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of North Carolina at Wilmington Report

Florida International University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the suburb of Miami, FIU is a public college with a very large student population.

Of the 243 students majoring in parks and rec at FIU, 55% are male and 45% are female.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida International University Report

Coastal Carolina University 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 #15 on the list. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the small city of Conway.

Women make up 47% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Read More…

#16

The University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL

The University of Alabama ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. UA is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Tuscaloosa.

About 60% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 40% are male.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Alabama Report

University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #17 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in the city of Columbia, UofSC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

About 34% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 66% are male.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of South Carolina - Columbia Report

#18

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY

University of Louisville 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 #18 on the list. Located in the city of Louisville, UofL is a public college with a very large student population.

About 51% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 49% are male.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Louisville

#19

University of Mississippi

University, MS

University of Mississippi came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Located in the town of University, Ole Miss is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Of the 215 students majoring in parks and rec at Ole Miss, 37% are male and 63% are female.

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With a ranking of #20, The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their bachelor’s degree. UT Chattanooga is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of Chattanooga.

Women make up 54% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga

#21

Kennesaw State University

Kennesaw, GA

Kennesaw State University ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. KSU Georgia is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Kennesaw.

About 46% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 54% are male.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Kennesaw State University

Middle Tennessee State University 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 #22 on the list. Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public school located in the city of Murfreesboro.

About 48% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 52% are male.

Read More…

#23

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular bachelor’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the small city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

About 45% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 55% are male.

Read More…

#24

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. UF is a very large public school located in the midsize city of Gainesville.

Of the 175 students majoring in parks and rec at UF, 53% are male and 47% are female.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Florida

#24

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL

Florida Atlantic University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region list. FAU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Boca Raton.

About 53% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 47% are male.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Florida Atlantic University

#26

Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, TN
#27

University of North Georgia

Dahlonega, GA
#29

East Carolina University

Greenville, NC
#30

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL
#34

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY
#36

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN
#37

Clemson University

Clemson, SC
#38

William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness students in the Southeast Region that almost earned our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Bachelor's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region award.

Rank College Location
41 University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, NC
42 Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY
43 Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA
43 Winston - Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC
45 University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR
46 Georgia College & State University Milledgeville, GA
47 Arkansas State University - Main Campus Jonesboro, AR
48 The University of Tennessee - Martin Martin, TN
49 Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL
49 Emory University Atlanta, GA
51 University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL
52 Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN
53 University of North Alabama Florence, AL
54 University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
54 Wingate University Wingate, NC

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 Southeast region.

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 3,436
West Virginia 1,238
South Carolina 1,339
Florida 2,340
Virginia 1,729
Arkansas 1,012
Mississippi 1,128
Louisiana 703
Alabama 959
Kentucky 1,141
Georgia 1,981
Tennessee 2,462

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

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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