by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study parks, recreation, and leisure studies, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 50 schools that serve veteran parks, recreation, and leisure studies students especially well, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
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Explore the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Here are the top-ranked parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans:
East Carolina University tops our 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. East Carolina University scores 88.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for East Carolina University
A rank of #2 makes San Diego State University one of the top parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veteran students. It scores 87.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies program at San Diego State University
California State University-Long Beach came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 86.7 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies program at California State University-Long Beach
Veteran students seeking a strong parks, recreation, and leisure studies program will find one at Winona State University, which ranked #4. The school's overall veterans score is 86.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies at Winona State University
University of Arkansas is a great choice for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies, landing the #5 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 85.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0.
See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for University of Arkansas
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California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo placed #6 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.6 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
Ohio University-Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 84.1 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies program at Ohio University-Main Campus
University of Northern Iowa ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 82.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for University of Northern Iowa
University of Minnesota-Duluth landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies. It scores 81.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies program at University of Minnesota-Duluth
Georgia Southern University landed the #10 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies. It scores 81.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies program at Georgia Southern University
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University of Iowa placed #11 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. University of Iowa scores 81.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for University of Iowa
University of Toledo placed #12 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies at University of Toledo
California State University-Sacramento came in at #13 for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure studies students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 80.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies at California State University-Sacramento
Oregon State University landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies. It scores 80.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies at Oregon State University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania placed #15 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 80.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
15
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus came in at #16 for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure studies students this year. It scores 80.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies at Bowling Green State University-Main Campus
Jacksonville State University placed #17 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. It scores 80.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for Jacksonville State University
University of Missouri-Columbia ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Nebraska at Kearney landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies. The school's overall veterans score is 78.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies program at University of Nebraska at Kearney
San Francisco State University landed the #20 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure studies. San Francisco State University scores 78.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score.
See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for San Francisco State University
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Radford University placed #21 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. It scores 78.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies at Radford University
University of North Carolina at Greensboro came in at #22 for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure studies students this year. University of North Carolina at Greensboro scores 77.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies program at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
State University of New York at Cortland ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.2 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure studies at State University of New York at Cortland
Indiana University-Bloomington placed #24 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.2 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure studies program at Indiana University-Bloomington
Northern Arizona University placed #25 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 77.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure studies report for Northern Arizona University
Not far behind, these parks, recreation, and leisure studies colleges also rank among the best for veterans this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying parks, recreation, and leisure studies: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
