Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 179 schools to find the best for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students.
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Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies in the The Plains States 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
Our analysis ranked University Of St Thomas Minnesota the best school in the country for a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 46 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,923 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 Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 132 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $36,050 early in their careers. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $23,064 in student loans.
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University Of Kansas is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 240 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Kansas in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $33,891. University Of Kansas graduates carry a median of $22,125 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program will find one at Saint Louis University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 108 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Saint Louis University Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $65,599. Students borrow a median of $26,316 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #5 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the top schools for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 105 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $38,725. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Iowa State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 238 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Iowa State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Iowa State University earn around $36,492 in the first couple years of their career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $25,425 in student loans.
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University Of Iowa came in at #7 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Iowa City. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 564 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $32,739 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,863 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Dakota came in at #8 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Vermillion, University Of South Dakota is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of South Dakota awarded about 88 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $51,566 in their early career. University Of South Dakota graduates carry a median of $26,322 in student loans.
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University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #9 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Duluth, University Of Minnesota Duluth is a large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 72 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Duluth in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $33,055 in their early career. University Of Minnesota Duluth graduates carry a median of $23,629 in student loans.
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North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #10 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates 64% of students within six years. About 61 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $36,646 in their early career. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans.
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Northwestern College Iowa came in at #11 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Orange City, Northwestern College Iowa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 23 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Northwestern College Iowa in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Northwestern College Iowa generally make around $54,845. Northwestern College Iowa graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans.
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Hamline University came in at #12 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Hamline University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Hamline University awarded about 14 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Hamline University earn a median of $48,679 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,530 to complete this degree.
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University Of North Dakota earned the #13 position for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Forks. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at University Of North Dakota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $64,378. University Of North Dakota graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans.
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Kansas State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Kansas State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $37,083 in their early career. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Winona State University placed #15 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 90 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Winona State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Winona State University earn around $41,708 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,431.
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Truman State University placed #16 among the best parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies schools. Set in the town of Kirksville, Truman State University is a mid-sized public institution. Truman State University graduates 68% of students within six years. Truman State University awarded about 55 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Truman State University generally make around $26,865. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete this degree.
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Bethel University Minnesota landed the #17 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Saint Paul. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 25 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees were awarded at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree from Bethel University Minnesota earn around $31,919 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete this degree.
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South Dakota State University came in at #18 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 73 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at South Dakota State University in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $41,328 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,419.
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Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #19 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 162 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $42,277 early in their careers. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $24,936 in student loans.
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Maryville University Of Saint Louis came in at #20 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 58 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Maryville University Of Saint Louis in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $32,480. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete this degree.
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Pittsburg State University landed the #21 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 51% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 57 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies students who graduated with this degree at Pittsburg State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $36,361 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,758 to complete this degree.
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Doane College Crete came in at #22 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crete. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Doane College Crete awarded about 17 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $53,500 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,802 to complete this degree.
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Rockhurst University landed the #23 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. Rockhurst University awarded about 35 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $70,849 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
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University Of Northern Iowa came in at #24 for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. University Of Northern Iowa graduates 68% of students within six years. University Of Northern Iowa awarded about 79 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 Northern Iowa earn around $37,946 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,538.
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Augustana College South Dakota landed the #25 spot for parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Sioux Falls. Roughly 73% of students complete a degree within six years here. Augustana College South Dakota awarded about 50 parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies program make about $50,088 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,625 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Studies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong parks, recreation, leisure & fitness studies education:
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 · 179 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).
