Best Parks institutions in the US, ranked by earnings
Compare 113 U.S. colleges offering Parks by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 36 states.
About Parks programs
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 through outdoor and recreational activities. This program prepares graduates for various roles in the public and private sectors, emphasizing the importance of engaging with the outdoors.
Students in this program gain essential skills such as speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing. Coursework covers topics like anatomy, therapeutic recreation, and conditioning theory, equipping students with the knowledge needed to facilitate effective recreational and educational experiences.
Top 48 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,596 | 125 | 81% | $13,712 | $12,000 |
| 2 | California State University - East Bay Hayward, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,700 | 30 | 48% | — | $20,306 |
| 3 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,149 | 25 | 68% | — | $22,396 |
| 4 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,149 | 45 | 0% | — | $22,396 |
| 5 | Metropolitan State University of Denver Denver, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,886 | 2 | 32% | — | — |
| 6 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,389 | 74 | 54% | — | $25,250 |
| 7 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,484 | 9 | 51% | — | — |
| 8 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,338 | 69 | 56% | — | $20,024 |
| 9 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,157 | 93 | 86% | — | $16,369 |
| 10 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,725 | 70 | 75% | — | $21,500 |
| 11 | Oklahoma State University - Main Campus Stillwater, OK Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,393 | 22 | 68% | — | $21,313 |
| 12 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,233 | 23 | 68% | — | $23,907 |
| 13 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,103 | 12 | 75% | — | $25,691 |
| 14 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,009 | 34 | 65% | — | $22,982 |
| 15 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,850 | 25 | 65% | — | — |
| 16 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,363 | 60 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 17 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,587 | 34 | 57% | — | $19,661 |
| 18 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,532 | 48 | 69% | — | $14,500 |
| 19 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,429 | 101 | 80% | — | $19,750 |
| 20 | Winona State University Winona, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,062 | 14 | 57% | — | $21,148 |
| 21 | East Carolina University Greenville, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,751 | 23 | 63% | — | $19,587 |
| 22 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,742 | 108 | 85% | — | $23,447 |
| 23 | Oregon State University Corvallis, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,451 | 29 | 70% | — | $22,500 |
| 24 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,287 | 31 | 51% | — | $24,950 |
| 25 | California State University - Chico Chico, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,920 | 49 | 63% | — | $18,179 |
| 26 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,692 | 14 | 76% | — | $14,999 |
| 27 | University of South Alabama Mobile, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,557 | 28 | 53% | — | $26,750 |
| 28 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus Bowling Green, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,709 | 34 | 64% | — | $26,000 |
| 29 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,697 | 33 | 57% | — | $14,061 |
| 30 | Southern Illinois University - Carbondale Carbondale, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,357 | 12 | 62% | — | $20,525 |
| 31 | Shaw University Raleigh, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,241 | 5 | 22% | $16,542 | $39,500 |
| 32 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,672 | 39 | 61% | — | $21,500 |
| 33 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,567 | 78 | 71% | — | $23,310 |
| 34 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,561 | 35 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 35 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,303 | 30 | 55% | — | $21,500 |
| 36 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,086 | 23 | 55% | — | $24,936 |
| 37 | Radford University Radford, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,145 | 28 | 49% | — | $26,000 |
| 38 | Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,890 | 20 | 52% | — | $23,855 |
| 39 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,427 | 9 | 50% | — | $16,797 |
| 40 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,345 | 12 | 58% | — | $27,457 |
| 41 | University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,241 | 47 | 58% | — | $23,500 |
| 42 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,558 | 31 | 65% | — | $17,897 |
| 43 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science Paul Smiths, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,543 | 8 | 51% | $22,773 | $23,250 |
| 44 | University of Mount Olive Mount Olive, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,219 | 7 | 52% | $16,473 | — |
| 45 | California State Polytechnic University - Humboldt Arcata, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $26,224 | 7 | 49% | — | — |
| 46 | Western Colorado University Gunnison, CO Public · Bachelor's degree | $25,903 | 23 | 50% | — | $19,507 |
| 47 | Grambling State University Grambling, LA Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,830 | 22 | 36% | — | $41,750 |
| 48 | Southern Oregon University Ashland, OR Public · Bachelor's degree | $19,139 | 21 | 43% | — | — |
Offered across 36 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1193, Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers in parks and recreation management, therapeutic recreation, and fitness instruction. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this area is $75,890, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Parks programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
- Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as anatomy, therapeutic recreation, and conditioning theory.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Tools & technology
Concentrations within Parks
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesCIP 31.0101
A program that focuses on the principles underlying recreational and leisure activities, and the practices involved in providing indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and services for the general
Common questions
What is the focus of the Parks program?+
The program focuses on parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4%.
What level of education is typically required?+
Most careers in this field require a doctoral or professional degree.
Related programs
Other programs in the same field of study.
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