by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you would like to work in a field that promotes exercise, leisure activities, and healthy living in a fun environment, consider majoring in Recreation Administration.
A career in Recreation Administration allows you to oversee the daily operations of recreational and leisure facilities, create programs, and take care of business administration tasks. To prepare for a career in this field, students take classes in topics such as business, finance, marketing, management, indoor and outdoor recreation and more.
Students have the ability to major in general Recreation Administration or can specialize in areas such as Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management.
A degree in Recreation Administration covers Parks, Recreation, And Leisure Facilities Management. Read on to learn the essential details every recreation administration student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering recreation administration programs.
Nationwide, recreation administration is a popular field of study, with 2,291 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Recreation Administration Schools ranking analyzes these 130 schools to determine the best overall colleges for recreation administration students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of recreation administration programs later in this article.
Studies in Recreation Administration develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations recreation administration graduates commonly enter.
Since students that go into Recreation Administration are responsible for many aspects of the business, it is important to be organized. This will be helpful when you need to handle multiple tasks and projects at one time. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are also required as you design programs, organize schedules for others and speak with clients and others that use your facility. These skills will also help you better serve customers and ensure you are providing them with the services they want. Students who pursue a degree in Recreation Administration often have a background in business.
Recreation Administration majors typically work in jobs that are full time. However, due to seasons, a job may be busier during certain times of the year, having an effect on work hours.
Summer jobs or internships in the recreation field will give students hands-on experience. It was also provide them with a background in recreation, so they can decide if this is a field they would like to pursue a career in.
Skills developed in a recreation administration program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a recreation administration major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several recreation administration degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 8 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 184 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,644 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 430 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 18 |
People currently working in careers related to recreation administration tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 18.0% |
| Some college courses | 12.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 11.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 8.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.7% |
| Master’s degree | 4.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in recreation administration careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in Recreation Administration prepares graduates to pursue a job in a variety of locations. Graduates work for recreation centers, parks, cruise ships, gyms, and other facilities that provide recreation and leisure services to the general public. With the field growing at an average rate, students should have good opportunities finding jobs after graduation. Those with previous experience or who are willing to move will have a better chance of finding a well-paying job.
Studying recreation administration opens doors to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to recreation administration.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to recreation administration.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | 276,926 | 4.4% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 163,335 | -2.2% |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 141,428 | 4.2% |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 139,205 | -2.2% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of recreation administration graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,229 |
| 4 years | $42,118 |
| 5 years | $48,563 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for recreation administration graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers recreation administration grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Security Managers | $104,128 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | $43,138 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers | $24,378 |
With 130 different recreation administration programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased recreation administration school rankings to help you.
Students interested in recreation administration, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 65,261 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 2,155 |
| Parks, Recreation, Leisure, Fitness, and Kinesiology, Other | 355 |
| Outdoor Education | 336 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
