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Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Schools

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2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Schools

125 Colleges
$23,329 Avg Salary
$12,283 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Undergraduate Certificate 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 Undergraduate Certificate Schools ranking. This report analyzed 125 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular undergraduate certificate programs 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 colleges and universities below are the most popular for parks and rec majors pursuing a undergraduate certificate.

#1

Bryan University

Tempe, AZ

Our 2023 rankings named Bryan University the most popular school in the United States for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Bryan University is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Tempe.

Women make up 46% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

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

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means National University College is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the medium-sized city of Bayamon, National University College is a private for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

About 35% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 65% are male.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at National University College Report

Out of the 125 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern California Health Institute landed the # 3 spot on the list. SOCHI is a fairly small private for-profit school located in the large city of Reseda.

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

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southern California Health Institute Report

Out of the 125 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, South Georgia Technical College landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the rural area of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

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

Read More…

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Bayamon. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Bayamon is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bayamon.

Women make up 36% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Read More…

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means International Sports Sciences Association is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. ISSA is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Carpinteria.

About 29% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 71% are male.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at International Sports Sciences Association Report

Red Rocks Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the medium-sized city of Lakewood, Red Rocks Community College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Women make up 31% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Red Rocks Community College

#7

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the large city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a public school with a very large student population.

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

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SUNY Westchester Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. SUNY Westchester Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Valhalla.

Of the 12 students majoring in parks and rec at SUNY Westchester Community College, 75% are male and 25% are female.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SUNY Westchester Community College

With a ranking of #9, Missouri Southern State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern is a public school with a small student population.

Women make up 42% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

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

Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Aguadilla did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Aguadilla, Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Aguadilla is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Of the 12 students majoring in parks and rec at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Aguadilla, 67% are male and 33% are female.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Aguadilla Report

San Jacinto Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a undergraduate certificate. It came in at #12 on the list. San Jacinto College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pasadena.

Of the 10 students majoring in parks and rec at San Jacinto College, 50% are male and 50% are female.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at San Jacinto Community College

Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the large city of San Juan, Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

Of the 9 students majoring in parks and rec at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro, 67% are male and 33% are female.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Metro Report

Community Care College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Schools list. Located in the city of Tulsa, Community Care College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

About 67% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 33% are male.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Community Care College

With a ranking of #15, Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Arecibo did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Arecibo is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Arecibo.

Women make up 38% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Arecibo

#15

Greenfield Community College

Greenfield, MA

Greenfield Community College landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular undergraduate certificate parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the town of Greenfield, Greenfield Community College is a public school with a small student population.

Of the 8 students majoring in parks and rec at Greenfield Community College, 63% are male and 38% are female.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Greenfield Community College Report

#15

Northwest Vista College

San Antonio, TX

With a ranking of #15, Northwest Vista College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Northwest Vista College is a large public school located in the city of San Antonio.

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

Read More…

#18

Moraine Park Technical College

Fond du Lac, WI

With a ranking of #18, Moraine Park Technical College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Located in the small city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a public college with a small student population.

Women make up 71% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Moraine Park Technical College Report

With a ranking of #18, Montgomery County Community College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their undergraduate certificate. Montco is a medium-sized public school located in the large suburb of Blue Bell.

Women make up 71% of the parks and rec majors at the school.

Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Montgomery County Community College Report

Additional Noteworthy Schools

Here are some additional popular schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness students that almost earned our Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Schools award.

Rank College Location
20 Central New Mexico Community College Albuquerque, NM
20 Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN
20 Clackamas Community College Oregon City, OR
23 Chandler-Gilbert Community College Chandler, AZ
23 California Healing Arts College Carson, CA
23 Coastal Carolina Community College Jacksonville, NC
23 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL

Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies by Region

View the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Undergraduate Certificate Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

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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