Best colleges for Parks in Missouri
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Missouri-Columbia, Northwest Missouri State University and Missouri State University - Springfield award the most Parks degrees in Missouri: 96, 73 and 12 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 4 Missouri colleges offer Parks and award 182 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 3 bachelor's programs, 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 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,389 | 73 | 54% | — | $25,250 |
| 2 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,725 | 96 | 75% | — | $21,500 |
| 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,345 | 12 | 58% | — | $27,457 |
Colleges awarding the most Parks degrees in Missouri
Top 4 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, 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 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia Public | 96 | $38,725 |
| 2 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville Public | 73 | $42,389 |
| 3 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield Public | 12 | $28,345 |
| 4 | Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau Public | 1 | 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 Missouri
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Parks programs in Missouri.
Which Missouri colleges award the most Parks degrees?+
University of Missouri-Columbia (96 graduates a year), Northwest Missouri State University (73 graduates a year) and Missouri State University - Springfield (12 graduates a year) award the most Parks degrees in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 4 Missouri colleges offer Parks.
Which Parks program in Missouri has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Northwest Missouri State University tops the list at $42,389. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in Missouri?+
The average annual wage for Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in Missouri is $78,510 (median $73,180), across about 200 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