ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in the Southeast Region

11 Colleges in the United States
358 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degrees Awarded
$32,073 Avg Early-Career Salary

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their parks, recreation & leisure studies programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 34 schools to find the best for parks, recreation & leisure studies students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget

Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the Southeast Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies

1
University Of Arkansas crest
University Of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR

University Of Arkansas is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. University Of Arkansas graduates 70% of students within six years. About 78 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Arkansas in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from University Of Arkansas generally make around $31,567. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $23,310 in student loans. Get the full parks, recreation & leisure studies details for University Of Arkansas

2

East Carolina University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #2. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. East Carolina University awarded about 23 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $34,751 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,587. Get the full parks, recreation & leisure studies details for East Carolina University

3

Georgia Southern University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia Southern University awarded about 23 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Georgia Southern University earn around $31,086 in the first couple years of their career. Georgia Southern University graduates carry a median of $24,936 in student loans. Get the full parks, recreation & leisure studies details for Georgia Southern University

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the top schools for parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro graduates 56% of students within six years. About 35 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn around $31,561 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

5
Radford University crest
Radford University
Radford, VA

Radford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, ranking #5. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Radford University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Radford University earn around $30,145 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. Get the full parks, recreation & leisure studies details for Radford University

6

South Georgia Technical College came in at #6 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Americus. About 32 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at South Georgia Technical College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from South Georgia Technical College generally make around $40,497. South Georgia Technical College graduates carry a median of $10,423 in student loans. Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at South Georgia Technical College

7
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV

Shepherd University earned the #7 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Shepherd University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Shepherdstown. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. About 31 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Shepherd University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Shepherd University earn a median of $34,287 early in their careers. Shepherd University graduates carry a median of $24,950 in student loans. Get the full parks, recreation & leisure studies details for Shepherd University

8

Jacksonville State University landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Jacksonville. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. Jacksonville State University awarded about 30 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $31,303 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree. Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at Jacksonville State University

9

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earned the #9 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College awarded about 28 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earn around $34,214 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,653. More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

10

University Of South Alabama earned the #10 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Alabama awarded about 28 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from University Of South Alabama earn around $33,557 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University Of South Alabama

11

Grambling State University earned the #11 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Grambling State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Grambling. The six-year graduation rate is 36%. There were roughly 22 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Grambling State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $19,830 in their early career. Grambling State University graduates carry a median of $41,750 in student loans. Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at Grambling State University

ADBLOCK #173
View All Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 34 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options