Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared for those passionate about shaping vibrant, inclusive communities, this program explores the foundational theories and practical applications of recreation, parks, and leisure services. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to design, manage, and evaluate programs that enhance public well-being through structured and spontaneous leisure experiences.
- Recreational Therapy and Inclusion: Examines how leisure-based interventions support physical, emotional, and cognitive development across diverse populations, including individuals with disabilities and older adults.
- Outdoor Recreation Management: Focuses on planning, conservation, and sustainable use of natural spaces such as parks, trails, and wilderness areas to promote environmental stewardship and public access.
- Leisure and Community Development: Investigates strategies for fostering social cohesion and civic engagement through community-driven recreation initiatives and public programming.
- Facility Planning and Operations: Covers the design, maintenance, and management of indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, including budgeting, safety standards, and accessibility compliance.
- Program Design and Evaluation: Teaches evidence-based methods for creating effective leisure programs and assessing their impact on participant satisfaction, health outcomes, and community vitality.
- Policy and Advocacy in Recreation: Explores the legislative and institutional frameworks that shape public recreation services, with emphasis on equity, funding models, and long-term sustainability.
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies degrees, including Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 12,680 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1193 | $75,890 | $44,150 - $158,240 | 12,680 | N/A |
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $55,770 in Utah to $130,340 in California—a 134% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Arizona, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 12,680 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies is found at Brigham Young University (BYU) (125 graduates), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (108 graduates), Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (101 graduates), California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo (93 graduates), and University of Arkansas (U of A) (78 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,142 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
|
125 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
108 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
101 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Bachelor's
|
93 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
|
78 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Northwest Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
74 | Maryville, Missouri | Public | nwmissouri.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
|
70 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
69 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
65 | Chico, California | Public | csuchico.edu |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) |
Bachelor's
|
60 | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Public | kutztown.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Other Award
|
50 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
48 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNK) |
Bachelor's
|
47 | Kearney, Nebraska | Public | unk.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
39 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Pittsburg State University |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
34 | Pittsburg, Kansas | Public | pittstate.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
34 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| California State University |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | Americus, Georgia | Public | southgatech.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Shepherd University |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Shepherdstown, West Virginia | Public | shepherd.edu |
| Jacksonville State University (JSU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Jacksonville, Alabama | Public | jsu.edu |
| California State University (CSUEB) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Hayward, California | Public | csueastbay.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of South Alabama (USA) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Mobile, Alabama | Public | southalabama.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Associate's
|
28 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| Radford University |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Radford, Virginia | Public | radford.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College (KCC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | kbcc.cuny.edu |
| Allan Hancock College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Santa Maria, California | Public | hancockcollege.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Western Colorado University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Gunnison, Colorado | Public | western.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| Grambling State University (GSU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Grambling, Louisiana | Public | gram.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Southern Oregon University (SOU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | Ashland, Oregon | Public | sou.edu |
| Northern Michigan University (NMU) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Marquette, Michigan | Public | nmu.edu |
| Winona State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Winona, Minnesota | Public | winona.edu |
| State University of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Cortland, New York | Public | www2.cortland.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Fresno City College (FCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
13 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnocitycollege.edu |
| Southern Illinois University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Carbondale, Illinois | Public | siu.edu |
| Emporia State University (ESU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Emporia, Kansas | Public | emporia.edu |
| Southern Utah University (SUU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Cedar City, Utah | Public | suu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Houghton University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Houghton, New York | Private | houghton.edu |
| Sierra College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Rocklin, California | Public | sierracollege.edu |
| Salem State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Salem, Massachusetts | Public | salemstate.edu |
| CUNY Lehman College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Bronx, New York | Public | lehman.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMD) |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | d.umn.edu |
| Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Paul Smiths, New York | Private | paulsmiths.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Plattsburgh, New York | Public | plattsburgh.edu |
| California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Humboldt) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Arcata, California | Public | humboldt.edu |
| University of Mount Olive (UMO) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Mount Olive, North Carolina | Private | umo.edu |
| Butler County Community College (BC3) |
Associate's
|
7 | Butler, Pennsylvania | Public | bc3.edu |
| Feather River Community College District |
Associate's
|
5 | Quincy, California | Public | frc.edu |
| Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Bourbonnais, Illinois | Private | olivet.edu |
| Garrett College |
Associate's
|
5 | McHenry, Maryland | Public | garrettcollege.edu |
| Mars Hill University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Mars Hill, North Carolina | Private | mhu.edu |
| Shaw University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | shawu.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (CUW) |
Other Award
|
5 | Mequon, Wisconsin | Private | cuw.edu |
| Northwest College (NWC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
5 | Powell, Wyoming | Public | nwc.edu |
| University of Alaska (UAS) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Juneau, Alaska | Public | uas.alaska.edu |
| Alaska Pacific University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Anchorage, Alaska | Private | alaskapacific.edu |
| Cypress College |
Other Award
|
4 | Cypress, California | Public | cypresscollege.edu |
| Ithaca College (IC) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Ithaca, New York | Private | ithaca.edu |
| Miami University |
Other Award
|
4 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Beckley, West Virginia | Public | wvutech.edu |
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Master's
|
3 | Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| University of Maine (UMaine) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
3 | Orono, Maine | Public | umaine.edu |
| Alcorn State University (ASU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Alcorn State, Mississippi | Public | alcorn.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Master's
|
3 | Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| York College of Pennsylvania (YCP) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | York, Pennsylvania | Private | ycp.edu |
| Newberry College |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Newberry, South Carolina | Private | newberry.edu |
| Eastern Washington University (EWU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Cheney, Washington | Public | ewu.edu |
| Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
3 | Warner Robins, Georgia | Public | centralgatech.edu |
| American River College (ARC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Sacramento, California | Public | arc.losrios.edu |
| College of the Canyons |
Associate's
|
2 | Santa Clarita, California | Public | canyons.edu |
| Cuesta College |
Associate's
|
2 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | cuesta.edu |
| Simpson University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Redding, California | Private | simpsonu.edu |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Denver, Colorado | Public | msudenver.edu |
| Gwinnett Technical College (Gwinnett Tech) |
Other Award
|
2 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | gwinnetttech.edu |
| Springfield College |
Master's
|
2 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | springfield.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| Sullivan County Community College (SUNY Sullivan) |
Associate's
|
2 | Loch Sheldrake, New York | Public | sunysullivan.edu |
| Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) |
Associate's
|
2 | Dryden, New York | Public | tompkinscortland.edu |
| Central State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Wilberforce, Ohio | Public | centralstate.edu |
| Temple University |
Other Award
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| North Greenville University (NGU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Tigerville, South Carolina | Private | ngu.edu |
| Central Wyoming College (CWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
2 | Riverton, Wyoming | Public | cwc.edu |
| Diablo Valley College (DVC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Pleasant Hill, California | Public | dvc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs
How much can I earn with a Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies degree?
Salaries for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies graduates vary by role and location. Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $75,890 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $130,340 compared to $55,770 in Utah. Approximately 12,680 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs?
Currently 113 accredited institutions offer Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Brigham Young University (BYU) (125 graduates), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) (108 graduates), and Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (101 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 3,276 in 2010 to a peak of 3,224 in 2020, before declining slightly to 2,155 in 2023-24. This represents a 34% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 12,680 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Kinesiology Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Kinesiology field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Parks and Recreation Management
Any instructional program in parks, recreation, and leisure facilities management not listed above.
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education
A general program that focuses on activities and principles that promote physical fitness, achieve and maintain athletic prowess, and accomplish related research and...
Sport and Fitness Management
A program that prepares individuals to apply business, coaching and physical education principles to the organization, administration and management of athletic programs and...
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
A scientific program that focuses on the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and biophysics of human movement, and applications to exercise and therapeutic rehabilitation. Includes...
Physical Fitness Technician
A program that prepares individuals for employment in health and fitness clubs, wellness centers, public and private recreation facilities, hospitals and corporate fitness...
Sports Studies
A program that focuses on the psychological, sociological, and historical aspects of sport and physical activity. Includes instruction in theory of sport, sport...