Best colleges for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
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 public.
101 U.S. institutions graduated 2,249 Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 31.0101, a specialization of Parks (CIP 31.01), and leads most directly to the Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC 25-1193).
About Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs
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 public.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program focuses on the principles and practices associated with recreational and leisure activities. It prepares students to provide indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and services for the general public, making it ideal for those passionate about enhancing community well-being through recreation and leisure. This program is suited for individuals looking to make a positive impact on public health and fitness through organized activities.
Students in this program will develop essential skills such as speaking, active listening, and critical thinking. Coursework often includes topics related to education, psychology, and customer service, ensuring graduates are well-equipped to engage with diverse populations and manage recreational programs effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree1,776 graduates / yr · 73 institutions79%
- Master's degree185 graduates / yr · 18 institutions8.2%
- Associate's degree161 graduates / yr · 21 institutions7.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year88 graduates / yr · 11 institutions3.9%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years19 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.8%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship15 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.7%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3,440 |
| 2013 | 3,405 |
| 2014 | 3,773 |
| 2015 | 3,837 |
| 2016 | 3,621 |
| 2017 | 3,623 |
| 2018 | 3,502 |
| 2019 | 3,516 |
| 2020 | 3,195 |
| 2021 | 3,069 |
| 2022 | 2,781 |
| 2023 | 2,337 |
| 2024 | 2,129 |
| 2025 | 2,249 |
Top 50 institutions for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field starting salary* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 148 | 85% | — | $34,742 |
| 2 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 141 | 81% | $13,712 | $47,596 |
| 3 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 117 | 80% | — | $35,429 |
| 4 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CAPublicBachelor's | 106 | 86% | — | $39,157 |
| 5 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, ARPublicBachelor's | 96 | 71% | — | $31,567 |
| 6 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MOPublicBachelor's | 96 | 75% | — | $38,725 |
| 7 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MOPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 73 | 54% | — | $42,389 |
| 8 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PAPublicBachelor's | 65 | 54% | — | $36,363 |
| 9 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 60 | 84% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 59 | 65% | — | $37,009 |
| 11 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 58 | 56% | — | $40,338 |
| 12 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 52 | 61% | — | $31,672 |
| 13 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CAPublicBachelor'sPost-degree cert.Master's | 49 | 69% | — | $35,532 |
| 14 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZPublicBachelor's | 46 | 0% | — | $43,149 |
| 15 | CUNY Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NYPublicAssociate's | 45 | 28% | — | — |
| 16 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MSPublicAssociate's | 44 | 48% | — | — |
| 17 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WAPublicBachelor's | 41 | 65% | — | $27,558 |
| 18 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KSPublicBachelor's | 37 | 57% | — | $35,587 |
| 19 | University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NEPublicBachelor's | 34 | 58% | — | $28,241 |
| 20 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NCPublicBachelor's | 34 | 56% | — | $31,561 |
| 21 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OHPublicBachelor's | 30 | 64% | — | $32,709 |
| 22 | Ohio University Athens, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 30 | 65% | — | $36,850 |
| 23 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, ALPublicBachelor's | 29 | 55% | — | $31,303 |
| 24 | California State University - Chico Chico, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 29 | 63% | — | $33,920 |
| 25 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 28 | 68% | — | $37,233 |
| 26 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor's | 25 | 76% | — | $33,692 |
| 27 | Northern Michigan University Marquette, MIPublicBachelor's | 25 | 52% | — | $28,890 |
| 28 | Southern Oregon University Ashland, ORPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 25 | 43% | — | $19,139 |
| 29 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GAPublicBachelor's | 24 | 55% | — | $31,086 |
| 30 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 23 | 68% | — | $43,149 |
| 31 | Radford University Radford, VAPublicBachelor's | 23 | 49% | — | $30,145 |
| 32 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CAPublicBachelor's | 22 | 57% | — | $32,697 |
| 33 | South Georgia Technical College Americus, GAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 22 | 61% | — | — |
| 34 | Grambling State University Grambling, LAPublicBachelor's | 22 | 36% | — | $19,830 |
| 35 | San Jose State University San Jose, CAPublicBachelor's | 21 | 69% | — | — |
| 36 | Winona State University Winona, MNPublicBachelor's | 21 | 57% | — | $35,062 |
| 37 | Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 19 | 26% | — | — |
| 38 | Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OKPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 19 | 68% | — | $37,393 |
| 39 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 18 | 63% | — | $34,751 |
| 40 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor's | 17 | 70% | — | $34,451 |
| 41 | Western Colorado University Gunnison, COPublicBachelor's | 16 | 50% | — | $25,903 |
| 42 | Southern Utah University Cedar City, UTPublicBachelor's | 16 | 61% | — | — |
| 43 | Sierra College Rocklin, CAPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 42% | — | — |
| 44 | Houghton University Houghton, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 15 | 65% | $20,470 | — |
| 45 | Utah State University Logan, UTPublicBachelor's | 15 | 59% | — | $35,079 |
| 46 | Emporia State University Emporia, KSPublicBachelor's | 14 | 56% | — | — |
| 47 | California State University - East Bay Hayward, CAPublicBachelor's | 13 | 48% | — | $43,700 |
| 48 | State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, NYPublicMaster'sBachelor's | 13 | 68% | — | — |
| 49 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WVPublicBachelor's | 13 | 51% | — | $34,287 |
| 50 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicBachelor's | 12 | 50% | — | $28,427 |
* Field starting salary (1 yr): median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Parks field (CIP 31.01) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 34 states
Where Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Parks programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1193, Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program can pursue careers such as Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers at the postsecondary level. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $75,890, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 31.0101
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary SOC 25-1193 | $77,270 | +2.4% About as fast as average | ~1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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 and technology used
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Associate's degree, or an Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 101 colleges offering the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program in the U.S.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, writing, critical thinking, and more.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4% and around 1,100 annual job openings.
What is the CIP code for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies?+
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies is CIP 31.0101 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Parks (CIP 31.01). NCES defines it as: 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 public.
How many institutions offer Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs?+
101 U.S. institutions reported Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 34 states, awarding 2,249 credentials in the year. That is 100.0% of all Parks graduates.
How much do Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation, which Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $77,270 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Parks field report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,920, College Scorecard.
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Parks graduates, so its figures match the Parks program page.
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