Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 217 schools to find the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in the Far Western 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 & fitness studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 302 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #2 spot this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. About 86% of students finish within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 169 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $30,758 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,658.
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California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Pomona. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates 68% of students within six years. About 193 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at California State Polytechnic University Pomona in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $28,364. California State Polytechnic University Pomona graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at California State University Sacramento, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. About 370 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $31,954. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $18,180 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Pepperdine University, which ranked #5. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 70 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Pepperdine University earn around $34,388 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,336.
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University Of San Francisco landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 121 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $36,342. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $24,905 in student loans.
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Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #7 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. About 74 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Point Loma Nazarene University earn a median of $49,053 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,542.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #8 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 384 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $35,752 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,550.
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University Of The Pacific came in at #9 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. About 68% of students finish within six years. University Of The Pacific awarded about 52 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of The Pacific earn around $77,022 in the first couple years of their career. University Of The Pacific graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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University Of La Verne ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of La Verne graduates 63% of students within six years. About 68 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of La Verne in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $35,364 in their early career. University Of La Verne graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans.
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Central Washington University earned the #11 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Ellensburg, Central Washington University is a very large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Central Washington University awarded about 106 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Central Washington University earn a median of $48,410 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,945 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University placed #12 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. San Diego State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 427 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $26,334 in their early career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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California State University Fresno came in at #13 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. About 354 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $26,947. Students borrow a median of $14,307 to complete this degree.
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California State University East Bay earned the #14 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. There were roughly 165 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $33,253 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,306.
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Sonoma State University came in at #15 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. Sonoma State University awarded about 95 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $33,022. Students borrow a median of $19,628 to complete this degree.
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Saint Marys College Of California landed the #16 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Moraga. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 54 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $49,447 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,300 to complete this degree.
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Bellevue College earned the #17 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Bellevue, Bellevue College is a large public institution. About 13 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Bellevue College in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Bellevue College earn around $67,771 in the first couple years of their career. Bellevue College graduates carry a median of $18,839 in student loans.
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Eastern Washington University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public university. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Washington University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Eastern Washington University generally make around $47,144. Eastern Washington University graduates carry a median of $21,384 in student loans.
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Washington State University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the town of Pullman. Washington State University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 66 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Washington State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Washington State University generally make around $30,815. Students borrow a median of $20,981 to complete this degree.
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California State University Monterey Bay ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Seaside. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 145 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from California State University Monterey Bay earn around $29,929 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Monterey Bay graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino came in at #21 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 258 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from California State University San Bernardino earn around $29,143 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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San Francisco State University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. San Francisco State University awarded about 165 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $26,180. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $17,481 in student loans.
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Oregon State University earned the #23 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Oregon State University awarded about 211 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $29,880. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $24,155 in student loans.
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California Lutheran University came in at #24 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Thousand Oaks. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 58 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at California Lutheran University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from California Lutheran University earn around $33,818 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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California State University Northridge earned the #25 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 351 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $36,457. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies ranking:
The ranking above is published 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 · 217 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).
