2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools
Finding the Best Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master's Degree School for You
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies is the #18 most popular major in the country with 10,452 degrees and certificates awarded in 2020-2021.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Grad Degree Search has created the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools to help you in your search for the best school for you. Our analysis looked at 399 schools in the United States to see which master's degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies program at each school on the list.
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2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
The colleges and universities below are the most popular for parks and rec majors pursuing a master's degree.
Top 25 Most Popular Schools for a Master's in Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness
Our 2023 rankings named Concordia University, Irvine the most popular school in the United States for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University, Irvine is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Of the 405 students majoring in parks and rec at Concordia University, Irvine, 71% are male and 29% are female.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Irvine
Out of the 399 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Concordia University, Chicago landed the # 2 spot on the list. Concordia University, Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of River Forest.
Of the 300 students majoring in parks and rec at Concordia University, Chicago, 53% are male and 47% are female.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Concordia University, Chicago Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the small suburb of California, Cal U is a public school with a moderately-sized student population.
Of the 275 students majoring in parks and rec at Cal U, 44% are male and 56% are female.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Liberty University is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg.
Women make up 42% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means American Public University System is a great place for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. American Military University is a fairly large private for-profit school located in the town of Charles Town.
Of the 198 students majoring in parks and rec at American Military University, 56% are male and 44% are female.
With a ranking of #6, Arkansas State University - Main Campus did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. A-State is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Jonesboro.
Women make up 36% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #7 on the list. Located in the distant town of Athens, OHIO Athens is a public school with a very large student population.
Of the 169 students majoring in parks and rec at OHIO Athens, 67% are male and 33% are female.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Ohio University - Athens Campus Report
Southeastern Oklahoma State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the distant town of Durant.
Of the 159 students majoring in parks and rec at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 73% are male and 27% are female.
Georgetown University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Georgetown is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Washington.
Women make up 34% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Georgetown University
Southern New Hampshire University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. SNHU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Manchester.
Women make up 30% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Southern New Hampshire University Report
California Baptist University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Located in the city of Riverside, Cal Baptist is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly large student population.
Of the 129 students majoring in parks and rec at Cal Baptist, 47% are male and 53% are female.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at California Baptist University
California State University - Long Beach landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the large city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 116 students majoring in parks and rec at CSULB, 59% are male and 41% are female.
University of San Francisco did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. USFCA is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco.
Of the 97 students majoring in parks and rec at USFCA, 60% are male and 40% are female.
University of Florida ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville, UF is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Women make up 39% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Georgia Southern University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #15 on the list. GaSou is a fairly large public school located in the town of Statesboro.
Women make up 45% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Georgia Southern University Report
With a ranking of #16, Logan University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students working on their master’s degree. Logan University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Chesterfield.
Women make up 52% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Clemson University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the large suburb of Clemson, Clemson is a public school with a fairly large student population.
Of the 91 students majoring in parks and rec at Clemson, 48% are male and 52% are female.
Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Texas A&M College Station is a very large public school located in the midsize city of College Station.
Of the 85 students majoring in parks and rec at Texas A&M College Station, 60% are male and 40% are female.
Concordia University, Saint Paul came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Concordia University, Saint Paul is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Saint Paul.
Of the 79 students majoring in parks and rec at Concordia University, Saint Paul, 51% are male and 49% are female.
University of Northern Colorado landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Located in the city of Greeley, University of Northern Colorado is a public school with a large student population.
About 37% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 63% are male.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at University of Northern Colorado Report
Temple University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Temple is a fairly large public school located in the city of Philadelphia.
Of the 73 students majoring in parks and rec at Temple, 56% are male and 44% are female.
Western Kentucky University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #22 on the list. WKU is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green.
About 31% of the students majoring in parks and rec at the school are women while 69% are male.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Western Kentucky University
SUNY Cortland did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #23 on the list. SUNY Cortland is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Cortland.
Women make up 41% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Read full report on Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at SUNY Cortland
National University landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. National University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of La Jolla.
Women make up 37% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Illinois State University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies programs. Illinois State is a fairly large public school located in the suburb of Normal.
Women make up 54% of the parks and rec majors at the school.
Full Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies at Illinois State University Report
Rest of the Top Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools
Remaining Award Winners
This section represents the remainder of the schools awarded a Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the college was ranked in the top 15% of the 399 different United States parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies schools we analyzed.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Lock Haven University | Lock Haven, PA |
| 53 | University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, GA |
| 54 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Greensboro, NC |
| 54 | Belmont University | Nashville, TN |
| 54 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, TX |
| 54 | Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA |
| 58 | University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS |
| 58 | Central Washington University | Ellensburg, WA |
Additional Noteworthy Schools
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | Miami University - Oxford | Oxford, OH |
| 60 | Minnesota State University - Mankato | Mankato, MN |
| 60 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL |
| 63 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Carbondale, IL |
| 63 | University of Wisconsin - La Crosse | La Crosse, WI |
| 63 | Baylor University | Waco, TX |
| 63 | East Central University | Ada, OK |
| 63 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA |
| 68 | California State University - Fullerton | Fullerton, CA |
| 68 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL |
| 70 | California State University - Northridge | Northridge, CA |
| 71 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA |
| 71 | University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN |
| 71 | University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, MO |
| 71 | George Washington University | Washington, DC |
| 71 | Northeastern University Professional Advancement Network | Boston, MA |
| 76 | Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA |
| 76 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX |
| 76 | Wingate University | Wingate, NC |
| 76 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA |
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies by Region
View the Most Popular Parks, Recreation, Leisure & Fitness Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
| Region |
|---|
| Southeast |
| New England |
| Rocky Mountains |
| Plains States |
| Middle Atlantic |
| Far Western US |
| Southwest |
| Great Lakes |
Majors Related to Parks & Rec
Parks & Rec Majors to Study
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Health & Physical Education | 9,742 |
| Recreation Administration | 441 |
| Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 206 |
| Other Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies | 35 |
| Outdoor Education | 28 |
Most Popular Majors Related to Parks & Rec
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Public Administration & Social Service | 53,252 |
| Legal Professions | 45,189 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting | 13,045 |
| Military Technologies & Applied Sciences | 1,613 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 26 schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Credit for the banner image above goes to NPS Photo/Zurbuch.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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