by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management, you’ve come to the right place. The list below highlights 51 programs ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Explore the leading parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans below:
No school served veteran parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management students better than University of Florida this year. University of Florida scores 86.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management report for University of Florida
University of Arkansas is a great choice for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management, landing the #2 spot this year. It scores 85.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 100.0. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management report for University of Arkansas
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a great choice for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management, landing the #3 spot this year. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse scores 85.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Veteran students seeking a strong parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program will find one at Texas State University, which ranked #4. Texas State University scores 83.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management report for Texas State University
Illinois State University is a great choice for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management, landing the #5 spot this year. It scores 83.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management report for Illinois State University
5
Florida State University placed #6 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. Florida State University scores 82.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at Florida State University
Southern Connecticut State University came in at #7 for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management students this year. Southern Connecticut State University scores 82.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at Southern Connecticut State University
Clemson University came in at #8 for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management students this year. It scores 81.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management at Clemson University
Middle Tennessee State University landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management. Middle Tennessee State University scores 81.2 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 100.0. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at Middle Tennessee State University
Minnesota State University-Mankato ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. Minnesota State University-Mankato scores 81.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7.
See the full parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management report for Minnesota State University-Mankato
10
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. It scores 80.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management report for University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
North Carolina State University at Raleigh landed the #12 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management. The school's overall veterans score is 80.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management at North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Appalachian State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. It scores 80.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at Appalachian State University
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 79.9 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 100.0 veteran-support score. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at Eastern Kentucky University
University of North Carolina at Greensboro ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. It scores 77.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
15
Kean University placed #16 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. Kean University scores 77.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management at Kean University
Michigan State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. It scores 76.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at Michigan State University
University of West Georgia came in at #18 for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 76.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at University of West Georgia
Colorado State University-Fort Collins placed #19 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. Colorado State University-Fort Collins scores 76.4 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management at Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania came in at #20 for veteran parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management students this year. It scores 76.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7.
Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
20
West Virginia University placed #21 among the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. It scores 75.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at West Virginia University
North Carolina Central University landed the #22 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management. The school's overall veterans score is 75.9 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management at North Carolina Central University
Arkansas Tech University landed the #23 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management. It scores 75.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. See the full parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management report for Arkansas Tech University
University of Idaho landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management. It scores 75.3 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at University of Idaho
SUNY Brockport ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges for veterans. It scores 74.8 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management program at SUNY Brockport
These parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
We measure this ranking on the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
