by our College Data Analytics TeamWho doesn't look forward to long summer days or lazy weekends when you can relax in a park, participate in athletic competitions, or hang around by a pool? If you're interested in helping the public enjoy relaxing activities and lead healthy lifestyles, consider majoring in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies.
In this major you will take classes in administration, sociology, business, physical education, tourism and travel, therapeutic recreation, and sports science to learn how to develop recreation programs, customize activities for disabled children and adults, handle budgets, and oversee parks or recreation centers' operations. This degree allows students to work closely with the general public while overseeing employees in a relaxed environment.
A degree in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies explores Parks, Recreation, And Leisure Studies. Continue reading for the essential details every parks, recreation & leisure studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering parks, recreation & leisure studies programs.
In the U.S., parks, recreation & leisure studies is a popular field of study, with 2,155 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 113 schools to determine the best overall colleges for parks, recreation & leisure studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of parks, recreation & leisure studies programs later in this article.
Studies in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates commonly enter.
Students pursuing a degree in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies should have good communication and interpersonal skills. Professionals will often work with both the general public and employees, making the ability to communicate effectively and provide good customer service necessary. Students should also have good organization skills to coordinate activity schedules and ensure all daily operations are taken care of.
Depending on the job, professionals may be employed either seasonally or full time. Directors are often employed full time and work on administration tasks during the off-season, while workers, such as counselors, may only be seasonally employed. During busy times, both workers and upper level staff can expect to work long and sometimes irregular hours. Professionals typically split their time between the office and working with customers participating in programs or events.
Summer jobs as camp counselors or working at recreation centers will give students experience within the field. While this is not necessary, these jobs will give students the opportunity to decide if they enjoy working in the parks, recreation, and leisure industry.
While an associate's degree will allow graduates to work in the field, those who pursue a bachelor's degree will have better job opportunities and are more likely to advance to positions of management.
Skills emphasized by a parks, recreation & leisure studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a parks, recreation & leisure studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several parks, recreation & leisure 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 | 24 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 123 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,719 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 276 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to parks, recreation & leisure studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 74.2% |
| Master’s degree | 20.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.0% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in parks, recreation & leisure studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Due to the increasing amount of park, recreational, and leisure activities available to the general public, there are many job opportunities available as well. Graduates have gone to work at recreation centers, national parks, cruise ships, summer camps, and other fields that support exercise and healthy living.
With the field growing at an average rate, graduates should be able to find jobs after graduation. Jobs may be more readily available in different areas of the country, giving those who are willing to move better opportunities.
A degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies opens doors to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to parks, recreation & leisure studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to parks, recreation & leisure studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 596,959 | 11.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,839 |
| 4 years | $45,076 |
| 5 years | $51,746 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for parks, recreation & leisure studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers parks, recreation & leisure studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,688 |
With 113 different parks, recreation & leisure studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased parks, recreation & leisure studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering parks, recreation & leisure studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 2,155 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 65,261 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management | 2,291 |
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other | 355 |
| Outdoor Education | 336 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
