by our College Data Analytics TeamPeople who work hard also like to play hard. Students who study Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness learn how to provide fun and healthy experiences for busy individuals. If you enjoy the great outdoors, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and interacting with people this could be a great field for you.
While you may decide to major in General Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies, you also have the option to specialize in specific areas. Students interested in the business and administration side of recreation may be interested in Recreation Administration; those who seek to improve the health of others can pursue Health and Physical Education/Fitness; and those who have a passion for nature can major in Outdoor Education. Each of these majors allows for a career in a specific niche of recreation and leisure and gives professionals the ability to work closely with the general public.
Depending on the area of expertise you choose, you will take a variety of classes from business administration, marketing, and finance to environmental studies, kinesiology, nutrition, and physiology. No matter what you decide to specialize in, your major will prepare you for a rewarding career helping people get away from the stresses of everyday life.
A degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies covers Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, And Kinesiology. Instructional Programs That Focus On The Principles And Practices Of Managing Parks And Other Recreational And Fitness Facilities; Providing Recreational, Leisure And Fitness Services; And The Study Of Human Kinesiology And Fitness. Continue reading for the key facts every parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies programs.
Across the country, parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies is a widely-pursued major, with 70,398 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 1,378 schools to determine the best overall colleges for parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies programs later in this article.
Programs in Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates commonly enter.
Students who receive degrees in the numerous Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies areas of specialization often work in careers that provide services to others. This places a strong emphasis on interpersonal and customer relation skills. You must be able to listen to what the customer wants help them find a service that fits their needs. Students in this field also have strong organizational skills as they are often working on multiple projects at once or need to lead multiple teams.
Many employers value work experience. Students should try to find work in their field of interest during summer breaks. This will allow you to better the intricacies of the field and move into higher positions of management.
The skill set developed in a parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 511 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 6,211 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 52,127 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10,965 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 347 |
People currently working in careers related to parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 24.4% |
| Master’s degree | 19.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 6.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5.2% |
| Some college courses | 3.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 3.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
There are many different career opportunities available to students who have a degree in Parks, Recreation, Leisure, and Fitness Studies. Some graduates go to work at gyms or recreation centers while other find jobs in national parks or resorts. There are a variety of recreation and leisure activities, which allows graduates to find many unique jobs working both indoors and outdoors.
A degree in parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 1,771,772 | 1.7% |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 596,959 | 11.6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | 443,431 | 8.4% |
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| Coaches and Scouts | 332,603 | -0.5% |
| Athletic Trainers | 316,011 | -0.3% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | 276,926 | 4.4% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,327 |
| 4 years | $46,459 |
| 5 years | $54,662 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $144,072 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,688 |
| Athletic Trainers | $79,834 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $78,709 |
With 1,378 different parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering parks, recreation, leisure, & fitness studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
