2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in North Carolina

Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation & leisure studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Schools in North Carolina

Best Schools for Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies in North Carolina

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

East Carolina University
Greenville, NC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

23 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degrees Awarded

$34,751 Median Starting Salary

East Carolina University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Greenville. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 23 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees were awarded at East Carolina University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation & leisure studies degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $34,751. Typical student debt for the program is $19,587. Read more about the parks, recreation & leisure studies program at East Carolina University

2

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Greensboro, NC

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

35 Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies Degrees Awarded

$31,561 Median Starting Salary

A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the top schools for parks, recreation & leisure studies. This large public university is located in the city of Greensboro. About 56% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro awarded about 35 parks, recreation & leisure studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $31,561 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in parks, recreation & leisure studies from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 7 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.