by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies explores Parks, Recreation, And Leisure Studies. A Program That Focuses On The Principles Underlying Recreational And Leisure Activities, And The Practices Involved In Providing Indoor And Outdoor Recreational Facilities And Services For The General Public. Read on to learn the key facts 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.
Nationwide, parks, recreation & leisure studies draws strong interest, 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.
Coursework for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies develop 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.
Skills built by a parks, recreation & leisure studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, 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.*
A degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies can lead to many 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% |
College Scorecard reports 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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
