Best colleges for Parks in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Houghton University, State University of New York at Cortland and Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science award the most Parks degrees and certificates in New York: 15, 13 and 9 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 9 New York colleges offer Parks and award 95 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 2 institutions, 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 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $41,484 | 6 | 51% | — | — |
| 2 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Paul Smiths Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $27,543 | 9 | 51% | $22,773 | $23,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Parks degrees in New York
Top 7 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 | Houghton University Houghton Private not-for-profit | 15 | Not reported |
| 2 | State University of New York at Cortland Cortland Public | 13 | Not reported |
| 3 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Paul Smiths Private not-for-profit | 9 | $27,543 |
| 4 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx Public | 6 | $41,484 |
| 5 | Sullivan County Community College Loch Sheldrake Public | 3 | Not reported |
| 6 | State University of New York at Plattsburgh Plattsburgh Public | 2 | Not reported |
| 7 | Ithaca College Ithaca Private not-for-profit | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 2 New York colleges offering Parks
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College | Brooklyn | Public | 45 |
| Tompkins Cortland Community College | Dryden | Public | 1 |
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 New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Parks programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most Parks degrees?+
Houghton University (15 graduates a year), State University of New York at Cortland (13 graduates a year) and Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (9 graduates a year) award the most Parks degrees and certificates in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 9 New York colleges offer Parks.
How much do Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn in New York?+
The average annual wage for Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in New York is $90,190 (median $80,190), across about 670 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.
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