Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 152 schools to find the best for parks, recreation & leisure studies students.
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Choosing a Great Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies School
Where you study parks, recreation & leisure studies matters for your future. To help, we created our Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in the United States
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
Texas A And M University College Station is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 50 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $64,891 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,031.
Get the full parks, recreation & leisure studies details for Texas A And M University College Station
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 93 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $39,157. Students borrow a median of $16,369 to complete this degree.
Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
California State University Sacramento is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 69 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $40,338. Typical student debt for the program is $20,024.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for California State University Sacramento
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 108 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $41,234 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
San Jose State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 21 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
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Cuny Kingsborough Community College came in at #6 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. About 25 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Cuny Kingsborough Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn around $35,562 in the first couple years of their career. Cuny Kingsborough Community College graduates carry a median of $7,858 in student loans.
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San Diego State University landed the #7 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 14 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $33,692. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $14,999 in student loans.
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California State University East Bay placed #8 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. California State University East Bay awarded about 30 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from California State University East Bay earn around $43,700 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,306.
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Indiana University Bloomington landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. There were roughly 101 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Indiana University Bloomington earn around $39,038 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete this degree.
Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at Indiana University Bloomington
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #10 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 70 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $38,725 in their early career. University Of Missouri Columbia graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University Of Missouri Columbia
Suny College At Cortland came in at #11 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the town of Cortland, Suny College At Cortland is a moderately-sized public institution. Suny College At Cortland graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Cortland in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $38,709 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,369.
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Brigham Young University Provo landed the #12 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 125 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Brigham Young University Provo in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Brigham Young University Provo earn around $47,596 in the first couple years of their career. Brigham Young University Provo graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
See the full parks, recreation & leisure studies program report for Brigham Young University Provo
Arizona State University came in at #13 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Arizona State University awarded about 25 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Arizona State University earn around $43,149 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,396 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fresno ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 33 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fresno in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $32,697. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $14,061 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach landed the #15 spot for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 48 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $35,532 early in their careers. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans.
Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at California State University Long Beach
California State University Chico came in at #16 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. California State University Chico awarded about 49 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from California State University Chico earn around $33,920 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Chico graduates carry a median of $18,179 in student loans.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from California State University Chico
Ohio University Main Campus placed #17 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Ohio University Main Campus earn around $36,850 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,546.
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University Of Iowa earned the #18 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. About 12 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from University Of Iowa earn around $37,103 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,691.
More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University Of Iowa
Oklahoma State University Main Campus placed #19 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. About 68% of students finish within six years. About 22 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at Oklahoma State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $37,393. Typical student debt for the program is $21,313.
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Pittsburg State University came in at #20 for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. Pittsburg State University awarded about 34 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $35,587 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,661 to complete this degree.
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Northern Arizona University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. Set in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public institution. About 61% of students finish within six years. Northern Arizona University awarded about 39 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $31,672. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Oregon State University earned the #22 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 29 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from Oregon State University earn around $34,451 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,500.
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Winona State University placed #23 among the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 14 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $35,062 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,148 to complete this degree.
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University Of Northern Iowa earned the #24 position for parks, recreation & leisure studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Falls. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. About 23 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation & leisure studies degree from University Of Northern Iowa earn around $37,233 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,907.
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Emporia State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation & leisure studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Emporia. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 13 parks, recreation & leisure studies students who graduated with this degree at Emporia State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation & leisure studies program make about $46,440 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,131.
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Rest of the Top 49 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong parks, recreation & leisure studies education:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 152 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
