Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness 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.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 216 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 Middle Atlantic 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
Georgetown University tops our 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgetown University awarded about 139 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $54,668 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $16,483 in student loans.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 318 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year.
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The College Of New Jersey is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #3. The College Of New Jersey is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ewing. The College Of New Jersey graduates 86% of students within six years. About 65 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at The College Of New Jersey in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $56,617 in their early career. The College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,429 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes George Washington University one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. George Washington University 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 $73,749 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910.
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University Of Maryland College Park came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 188 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $31,403. Students borrow a median of $23,138 to complete this degree.
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Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #6 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 70 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $63,418. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
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Rowan University placed #7 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 28 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Rowan University in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $52,031 early in their careers. Rowan University graduates carry a median of $24,488 in student loans.
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Suny College At Oneonta earned the #8 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the town of Oneonta, Suny College At Oneonta is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 94 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Suny College At Oneonta in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Suny College At Oneonta earn a median of $36,119 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,600.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of West Chester. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 187 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey came in at #10 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey is a large public school located in the rural area of Galloway. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey earn around $43,490 in the first couple years of their career. The Richard Stockton College Of New Jersey graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans.
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Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #11 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Brooklyn. Cuny Kingsborough Community College awarded about 30 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn around $35,562 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,858 to complete this degree.
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Thomas Jefferson University came in at #12 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Thomas Jefferson University graduates 69% of students within six years. Thomas Jefferson University awarded about 12 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $64,243 early in their careers. Thomas Jefferson University graduates carry a median of $32,256 in student loans.
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Towson University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 255 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Towson University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Towson University earn around $32,101 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,250.
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American University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. American University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. American University graduates 76% of students within six years. American University awarded about 21 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $58,019 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,139 to complete this degree.
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Farmingdale State College earned the #15 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 53 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Farmingdale State College in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $29,717 early in their careers. Farmingdale State College graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans.
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Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #16 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Rutgers University New Brunswick awarded about 324 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $39,484 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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Seton Hall University earned the #18 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 33 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Seton Hall University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $39,333. Students borrow a median of $24,125 to complete this degree.
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University Of Delaware ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Newark. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 183 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Delaware in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Delaware earn a median of $26,555 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,336 to complete this degree.
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Saint John Fisher College earned the #20 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Saint John Fisher College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. About 74% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Saint John Fisher College in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Saint John Fisher College earn a median of $36,273 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,364 to complete this degree.
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Syracuse University earned the #21 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. Syracuse University awarded about 151 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $34,821 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Scranton ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Scranton. University Of Scranton graduates 80% of students within six years. University Of Scranton awarded about 46 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $56,861 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Lebanon Valley College landed the #23 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Lebanon Valley College awarded about 79 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Lebanon Valley College generally make around $39,243. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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Temple University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 75% of students finish within six years. Temple University awarded about 212 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Temple University earn a median of $37,260 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Pennsylvania Western University came in at #25 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania Western University awarded about 308 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year.
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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. 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 · 216 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).
