by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management involves the study of Parks, Recreation, And Leisure Facilities Management, General. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Develop And Manage Park Facilities And Other Indoor And Outdoor Recreation And Leisure Facilities. Includes Instruction In Supervising Support Personnel, Health And Safety Standards, Public Relations, And Basic Business And Marketing Principles. Read on to learn the important information every parks, recreation & leisure facilities management major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering parks, recreation & leisure facilities management programs.
Nationwide, parks, recreation & leisure facilities management draws strong interest, with 2,129 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management Schools ranking analyzes these 122 schools to determine the best overall colleges for parks, recreation & leisure facilities management students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of parks, recreation & leisure facilities management programs later in this article.
Studies in Parks, Recreation & Leisure Facilities Management develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a parks, recreation & leisure facilities management program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a parks, recreation & leisure facilities management major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several parks, recreation & leisure facilities management 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 | 6 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 79 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,609 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 410 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 18 |
People currently working in careers related to parks, recreation & leisure facilities management tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 41.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 24.0% |
| Some college courses | 10.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 9.5% |
| Master’s degree | 6.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in parks, recreation & leisure facilities management careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying parks, recreation & leisure facilities management opens doors to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to parks, recreation & leisure facilities management.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to parks, recreation & leisure facilities management.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Security Managers | 360,967 | 0.6% |
| Facilities Managers | 268,353 | -0.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 163,335 | -2.2% |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | 141,428 | 4.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 parks, recreation & leisure facilities management graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers parks, recreation & leisure facilities management 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 |
With 122 different parks, recreation & leisure facilities management programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased parks, recreation & leisure facilities management school rankings to help you.
Those considering parks, recreation & leisure facilities management, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management | 161 |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, Other | 1 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
