2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree 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.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 399 schools in the United States to see which master'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.
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2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Check out the parks and rec master's degree programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.
Top 25 Most Popular Schools for a Master's in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness
Our 2023 rankings named Concordia University, Irvine the most popular school in the United States for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
About 29% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 71% are male.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Irvine
Out of the 399 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the # 2 spot on the list. Concordia University, Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of River Forest.
About 47% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 53% are male.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the small suburb of California, Cal U is a public college with a medium-sized student population.
About 56% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 44% are male.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California University of Pennsylvania Report
The in-demand master’s degree programs at Liberty University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the most popular parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools in the United States. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Lynchburg.
Of the 206 students majoring in parks and rec at Liberty University, 58% are male and 42% are female.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Public University System. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the fringe town of Charles Town.
About 44% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 56% are male.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at American Public University System Report
Arkansas State University - Main Campus landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. A-State is a large public school located in the small city of Jonesboro.
Of the 181 students majoring in parks and rec at A-State, 64% are male and 36% are female.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Arkansas State University - Main Campus Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public college with a fairly large student population.
About 33% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 67% are male.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio University - Athens Campus
Southeastern Oklahoma State University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Durant.
About 27% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 73% are male.
Georgetown University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Georgetown is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington.
Of the 150 students majoring in parks and rec at Georgetown, 66% are male and 34% are female.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Georgetown University
Southern New Hampshire 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 master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. SNHU is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester.
Of the 129 students majoring in parks and rec at SNHU, 70% are male and 30% are female.
California Baptist University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the large city of Riverside, Cal Baptist is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
About 53% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 47% are male.
California State University - Long Beach came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Located in the city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public college with a fairly large student population.
About 41% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 59% are male.
University of Florida landed the #13 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville, UF is a public college with a very large student population.
Of the 97 students majoring in parks and rec at UF, 61% are male and 39% are female.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Florida
University of San Francisco did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. USFCA is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco.
About 40% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 60% are male.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of San Francisco
Georgia Southern University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. GaSou is a fairly large public school located in the distant town of Statesboro.
Of the 96 students majoring in parks and rec at GaSou, 55% are male and 45% are female.
Logan University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Logan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Chesterfield.
Of the 95 students majoring in parks and rec at Logan University, 48% are male and 52% are female.
Clemson 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 master’s degree. It came in at #17 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Clemson, Clemson is a public college with a very large student population.
About 52% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 48% are male.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Clemson University
Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Texas A&M College Station is a fairly large public school located in the medium-sized city of College Station.
About 40% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 60% are male.
With a ranking of #19, Concordia University, Saint Paul did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul.
About 49% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 51% are male.
University of Northern Colorado did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in the city of Greeley, University of Northern Colorado is a public school with a large student population.
Women make up 37% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Northern Colorado Report
Temple University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Temple is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Philadelphia.
About 44% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 56% are male.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Temple University Report
Western Kentucky University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. WKU is a fairly large public school located in the city of Bowling Green.
Women make up 31% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Kentucky University
National University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of La Jolla.
Of the 68 students majoring in parks and rec at National University, 63% are male and 37% are female.
SUNY Cortland did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. SUNY Cortland is a medium-sized public school located in the distant town of Cortland.
Of the 68 students majoring in parks and rec at SUNY Cortland, 59% are male and 41% are female.
With a ranking of #25, Illinois State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Illinois State is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal.
Of the 67 students majoring in parks and rec at Illinois State, 46% are male and 54% are female.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State University Report
Rest of the Top Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This list shows the rest of the colleges awarded a Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 399 different United States parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools we analyzed.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Ohio State University - Main Campus | Columbus, OH |
| 53 | University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, GA |
| 54 | Belmont University | Nashville, TN |
| 54 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC |
| 54 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, TX |
| 54 | Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA |
| 58 | Central Washington University | Ellensburg, WA |
| 58 | University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS |
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 Master's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Minnesota State University - Mankato | Mankato, MN |
| 60 | Miami University - Oxford | Oxford, OH |
| 60 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| 63 | Baylor University | Waco, TX |
| 63 | University of Wisconsin - La Crosse | La Crosse, WI |
| 63 | East Central University | Ada, OK |
| 63 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Carbondale, IL |
| 63 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA |
| 68 | California State University - Fullerton | Fullerton, CA |
| 68 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL |
| 70 | California State University - Northridge | Northridge, CA |
| 71 | University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN |
| 71 | George Washington University | Washington, DC |
| 71 | Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network | Boston, MA |
| 71 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA |
| 71 | University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, MO |
| 76 | Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA |
| 76 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
| 76 | Wingate University | Wingate, NC |
| 76 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies by Region
View the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree 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 26 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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