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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 West Virginia

8 Colleges in the United States
1,163 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Degrees Awarded
$38,086 Avg Early-Career Salary

Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in West Virginia

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

West Virginia University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Morgantown. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 195 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at West Virginia University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from West Virginia University earn around $30,145 in the first couple years of their career. West Virginia University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies from West Virginia University

2

A rank of #2 makes American Public University System one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 683 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at American Public University System in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $55,491 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,312 to complete this degree. Get the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies details for American Public University System

3

University Of Charleston is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #3. University Of Charleston is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charleston. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Charleston in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Charleston earn a median of $64,407 early in their careers. University Of Charleston graduates carry a median of $22,646 in student loans. See the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program report for University Of Charleston

4
Marshall University crest
Marshall University
Huntington, WV

Marshall University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This large public university is located in the city of Huntington. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 59 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Marshall University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Marshall University earn a median of $20,682 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000. More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies from Marshall University

5

Fairmont State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, ranking #5. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Fairmont. About 44% of students finish within six years. Fairmont State University awarded about 41 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Fairmont State University earn a median of $30,833 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete this degree. Get the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies details for Fairmont State University

6

Wheeling Jesuit University came in at #6 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the city of Wheeling, Wheeling Jesuit University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Wheeling Jesuit University graduates 23% of students within six years. Wheeling Jesuit University awarded about 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Wheeling Jesuit University generally make around $38,212. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program at Wheeling Jesuit University

7

Davis And Elkins College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the town of Elkins, Davis And Elkins College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Davis And Elkins College graduates 39% of students within six years. Davis And Elkins College awarded about 16 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Davis And Elkins College generally make around $71,201. Davis And Elkins College graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program at Davis And Elkins College

8
Shepherd University crest
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV

Shepherd University came in at #8 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the rural area of Shepherdstown, Shepherd University is a mid-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 31 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Shepherd University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $34,287 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,950 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies from Shepherd University

9

West Virginia Wesleyan College landed the #9 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Buckhannon. About 57% of students finish within six years. West Virginia Wesleyan College awarded about 15 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from West Virginia Wesleyan College generally make around $24,526. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program at West Virginia Wesleyan College

10

West Virginia State University came in at #10 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Institute. Roughly 39% 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 West Virginia State University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of West Virginia State University earn a median of $37,970 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,501 to complete this degree. See the full parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program report for West Virginia State University

11
West Liberty University crest
West Liberty University
West Liberty, WV

West Liberty University earned the #11 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the rural area of West Liberty, West Liberty University is a mid-sized public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 26 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at West Liberty University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from West Liberty University generally make around $24,139. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies from West Liberty University

12

Glenville State College placed #12 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the rural area of Glenville, Glenville State College is a mid-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. About 22 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Glenville State College in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $25,138 in their early career. Glenville State College graduates carry a median of $29,072 in student loans. More information about a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies from Glenville State College

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 15 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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