Best colleges for Parks in Colorado
Ranked by graduate earnings
Western Colorado University and University of Colorado Boulder award the most Parks degrees and certificates in Colorado: 16 and 11 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 2 Colorado colleges offer Parks and award 27 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program focuses on the study of parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology. It is designed for students interested in promoting healthy lifestyles and enhancing community well-being…
Top institution, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Colorado University Gunnison Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $25,903 | 16 | 50% | — | $19,507 |
Colleges awarding the most Parks degrees in Colorado
Top 2 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Colorado University Gunnison Public | 16 | $25,903 |
| 2 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder Public | 11 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1193).
Top skills
What Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Colorado
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Parks programs in Colorado.
Which Colorado colleges award the most Parks degrees?+
Western Colorado University (16 graduates a year) and University of Colorado Boulder (11 graduates a year) award the most Parks degrees and certificates in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 2 Colorado colleges offer Parks.
How much do Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Colorado?+
The average annual wage for Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in Colorado is $66,480 (median $65,730), across about 180 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Parks program?+
The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program focuses on the study of parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology. It is designed for students interested in promoting healthy lifestyles and enhancing community well-being…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, writing, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary?+
The national job outlook is about +2.4% growth with around 1,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card