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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools in Mississippi

7 Colleges in the United States
951 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Degrees Awarded
$35,070 Avg Early-Career Salary

Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in Mississippi

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

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Mississippi Main Campus this year for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This very large public university is located in the town of University. University Of Mississippi Main Campus graduates 72% of students within six years. University Of Mississippi Main Campus awarded about 176 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $23,029 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,870. Get the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies details for University Of Mississippi Main Campus

2
Mississippi State University crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS

Mississippi State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 260 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Mississippi State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mississippi State University generally make around $34,181. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program at Mississippi State University

3

University Of Southern Mississippi came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Hattiesburg. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. About 235 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Southern Mississippi in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from University Of Southern Mississippi earn around $41,034 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates carry a median of $23,924 in student loans. Get the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies details for University Of Southern Mississippi

4

A rank of #4 makes Mississippi College one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Located in the suburb of Clinton, Mississippi College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. There were roughly 60 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Mississippi College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Mississippi College generally make around $30,193. Typical student debt for the program is $24,625. See the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program report for Mississippi College

5

A rank of #5 makes Holmes Community College one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Goodman. Holmes Community College awarded about 15 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $32,145 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,191. More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies from Holmes Community College

6
Blue Mountain College crest
Blue Mountain College
Blue Mountain, MS

Blue Mountain College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the rural area of Blue Mountain, Blue Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit university. About 44% of students finish within six years. Blue Mountain College awarded about 26 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $36,823 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,542 to complete this degree. Get the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies details for Blue Mountain College

7

Northwest Mississippi Community College placed #7 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the town of Senatobia, Northwest Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 11 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Mississippi Community College in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Northwest Mississippi Community College earn a median of $35,001 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,990 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies from Northwest Mississippi Community College

8

Mississippi University For Women ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Columbus. Mississippi University For Women graduates 47% of students within six years. About 21 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Mississippi University For Women in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Mississippi University For Women earn a median of $42,756 early in their careers. Mississippi University For Women graduates carry a median of $20,825 in student loans. Read more about the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program at Mississippi University For Women

9

Belhaven University placed #9 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Jackson, Belhaven University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 49 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Belhaven University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Belhaven University generally make around $38,338. Belhaven University graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Get the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies details for Belhaven University

10

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #10 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College awarded about 28 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $34,214 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $11,653 to complete this degree. See the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program report for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

11
Alcorn State University crest
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State, MS

Alcorn State University placed #11 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the rural area of Alcorn State, Alcorn State University is a mid-sized public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. Alcorn State University awarded about 14 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Alcorn State University earn around $37,028 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,000. Get the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies details for Alcorn State University

12

Mississippi Valley State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Mississippi Valley State University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Itta Bena. Roughly 27% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 29 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Mississippi Valley State University in the most recent data year. Get the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies details for Mississippi Valley State University

13

Jackson State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Jackson, Jackson State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Jackson State University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Jackson State University earn a median of $36,104 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $32,944 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies from Jackson State University

14
Tougaloo College crest
Tougaloo College
Tougaloo, MS

Tougaloo College landed the #14 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Tougaloo. Tougaloo College graduates 33% of students within six years. Tougaloo College awarded about 14 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $42,875 to complete this degree. See the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program report for Tougaloo College

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Notes and References

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 · 20 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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