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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 226 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in the Great Lakes 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
No school ranked higher than Northwestern University this year for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Northwestern University awarded about 50 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Northwestern University earn around $58,537 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 377 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $42,490 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,135 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Indiana University Bloomington, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 538 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of $44,603 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,660.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #4. This very large public university is located in the city of Champaign. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 316 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $31,330. Typical student debt for the program is $21,480.
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Ohio State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 248 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $42,137 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Loyola University Chicago landed the #6 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Loyola University Chicago awarded about 36 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Loyola University Chicago earn around $58,568 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #7 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 256 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $29,866 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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University Of Illinois At Chicago landed the #8 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Illinois At Chicago awarded about 150 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $28,874 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,750.
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Miami University Oxford earned the #9 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Miami University Oxford awarded about 294 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $42,958 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
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Ohio University Main Campus came in at #10 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Athens. Ohio University Main Campus graduates 65% of students within six years. There were roughly 252 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Ohio University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $45,394. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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Illinois State University earned the #11 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. Illinois State University awarded about 209 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $37,222 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,400 to complete this degree.
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University Of Dayton came in at #12 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Dayton in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Dayton earn around $38,011 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Saint Xavier University earned the #13 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 45 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint Xavier University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Saint Xavier University earn around $51,753 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Xavier University graduates carry a median of $25,735 in student loans.
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Oakland University earned the #14 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Oakland University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 43 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Oakland University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $54,785. Typical student debt for the program is $25,972.
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Michigan State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 323 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Michigan State University earn around $37,257 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,788.
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Denison University earned the #16 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Granville. About 79% of students finish within six years. Denison University awarded about 24 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $39,797 in their early career. Denison University graduates carry a median of $25,360 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 35 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $45,767 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans.
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Depaul University came in at #18 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 15 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Depaul University earn around $55,226 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,310.
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Illinois Wesleyan University earned the #19 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Illinois Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $50,808 in their early career. Illinois Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans.
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University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #20 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates 74% of students within six years. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus awarded about 228 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $40,569 early in their careers. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans.
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Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis graduates 54% of students within six years. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis awarded about 111 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $33,756 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,160.
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Michigan Technological University landed the #22 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Michigan Technological University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $64,652. Michigan Technological University graduates carry a median of $20,091 in student loans.
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University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #23 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Oshkosh, University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 24 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of $50,590 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,619.
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University Of Southern Indiana came in at #24 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. University Of Southern Indiana awarded about 88 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 Southern Indiana earn around $40,508 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,375 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned the #25 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of La Crosse. About 71% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 253 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $37,354. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates carry a median of $23,001 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 50 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
These schools also placed among the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year:
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 · 226 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).
