Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness 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 & fitness studies programs.
College Factual analyzed 1489 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 46 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $58,537. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 139 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $54,668 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,483 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at University Of Florida, which ranked #3. This very large public university is located in the city of Gainesville. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 160 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $49,981 in their early career. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $19,707 in student loans.
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George Washington University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #4. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 32 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from George Washington University earn around $73,749 in the first couple years of their career. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #5. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 50 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $36,050. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $23,064 in student loans.
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University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 78 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $41,473 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,135 to complete this degree.
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San Jose State University placed #7 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 20 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 70 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $63,418 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
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University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. There were roughly 34 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $31,897 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,480.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #10 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 133 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data 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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Texas A And M University College Station ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Texas A And M University College Station awarded about 73 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $47,672. Typical student debt for the program is $20,414.
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Loyola University Chicago came in at #12 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 15 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $58,568 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #13 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 327 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn around $47,637 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,575 to complete this degree.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #14 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. About 83% of students finish within six years. About 24 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $36,419. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $26,227 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #15 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 16 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Virginia Main Campus earn around $54,185 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Florida State University placed #16 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. About 150 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $39,740. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans.
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Boston College came in at #17 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 50 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $51,092 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,101 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #18 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. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 92 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $49,330 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,550 to complete this degree.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #19 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 133 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $34,146 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,300 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus placed #20 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 211 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $47,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
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Northeastern University Global Network landed the #21 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Northeastern University Global Network is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Northeastern University Global Network awarded about 35 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Northeastern University Global Network earn a median of $53,373 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,055 to complete this degree.
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Tulane University Of Louisiana earned the #22 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. Tulane University Of Louisiana graduates 86% of students within six years. Tulane University Of Louisiana awarded about 34 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $54,082 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,077.
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The University Of Alabama earned the #23 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 73%. About 19 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at The University Of Alabama in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,496 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Francisco came in at #24 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students within six years. 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. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $46,187 in their early career. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $24,905 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #25 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Central Florida in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $46,398. Typical student debt for the program is $21,620.
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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:
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 · 1489 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).
