By major · Parks and Recreation Studies

Where can your student actually get into parks and recreation studies?

In 2022-23, 80 colleges awarded a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation studies, 11 of them in California. The biggest program that year was Brigham Young University, with 123 graduates. We build this page from federal data for every college that awards the degree, so it is the whole field rather than a shortlist.

This page is assembled from federal data for every college that awards the degree. There is no hand-written analysis on it.

At a glance · All states

80 colleges nationwide offer a bachelor's parks and recreation studies program; every one of them awarded the degree in 2022-23 (federal IPEDS completions).
Largest programs by graduates in 2022-23: Brigham Young University (123), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (102), University of Missouri-Columbia (89).
11 of them are in California, the one state whose public systems (the University of California and the CSU) publish an admit rate into the major.
Lowest average net price with aid: CUNY Lehman College, $3,148 per year.

Only the University of California and the CSU publish an admit rate into a major, so most colleges here show no program admit rate. A blank rate is not an open door. It means the college does not report one, and your student is applying against the campus admit rate instead. Admits are not enrollees. At most UC programs students are admitted to the campus, not the major. This page as JSON → · California only (11 colleges, with the UC and CSU gates) →

Lowest net price with aid

$3,148

CUNY Lehman College
average for aid recipients, per year

Every college, one row each

Colleges with a reported gate into the program come first, hardest first; the rest are sorted by earnings, then by graduates. Degree awarded is the program the college conferred bachelor's degrees in during 2022-23, with the number of graduates (federal IPEDS completions). Program admit rate is the college system's own number for this major (UC Information Center, CSU Chancellor's Office). Net price is the average paid by aid recipients; full price is the cost of attendance. Earnings are federal College Scorecard medians four years after the degree.

College	Gate into the program	Degree awarded · graduates 2022-23	Program admit rate	Campus admit rate	Net price with aid	Full price	Earnings 4 yrs out
Brigham Young University UT · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 123 graduates	—	69%	$15,564	$22,690	—
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 102 graduates	—	30%	$16,665	$32,265	—
University of Missouri-Columbia MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 89 graduates	—	77%	$20,268	$31,713	—
Indiana University-Bloomington IN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 87 graduates	—	80%	$16,264	$28,801	—
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 81 graduates	—	44%	$14,355	$33,642	—
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania PA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 70 graduates	—	95%	$21,331	$29,866	—
University of Arkansas AR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 58 graduates	—	72%	$18,209	$27,767	—
California State University-Sacramento CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 56 graduates	—	94%	$9,338	$22,945	—
Northern Arizona University AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 55 graduates	—	91%	$14,158	$29,933	—
California State University-Long Beach CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 46 graduates	—	47%	$10,440	$22,679	—
University of North Carolina at Greensboro NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 46 graduates	—	90%	$10,965	$21,373	—
University of Nebraska at Kearney NE · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 45 graduates	—	86%	$16,242	$25,808	—
University of Iowa IA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 43 graduates	—	85%	$22,531	$28,596	—
San Jose State University CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 42 graduates	—	80%	$13,760	$26,593	—
Western Washington University WA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 42 graduates	—	91%	$21,193	$30,359	—
California State University-Chico CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 39 graduates	—	94%	$14,480	$26,283	—
University of Utah UT · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 39 graduates	—	87%	$16,200	$25,557	—
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 37 graduates	—	81%	$24,022	$33,007	—
Arizona State University Digital Immersion AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 35 graduates	—	64%	—	—	—
Jacksonville State University AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 35 graduates	—	76%	$14,279	$24,257	—
California State University-East Bay CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 33 graduates	—	97%	$9,320	$22,850	—
Oregon State University OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 29 graduates	—	79%	$19,604	$31,653	—
Radford University VA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 29 graduates	—	91%	$14,578	$28,405	—
Winona State University MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 29 graduates	—	68%	$17,503	$23,683	—
Northwest Missouri State University MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 27 graduates	—	86%	$16,244	$24,945	—
California State University-Fresno CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 26 graduates	—	96%	$7,000	$20,095	—
University of Northern Iowa IA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 26 graduates	—	94%	$15,901	$22,278	—
Shepherd University WV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 25 graduates	—	96%	$11,363	$19,601	—
University of South Alabama AL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 24 graduates	—	66%	$17,648	$25,476	—
Georgia Southern University GA · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 23 graduates	—	90%	$15,267	$24,430	—
Grambling State University LA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 23 graduates	—	24%	$19,809	$25,367	—
Pittsburg State University KS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 22 graduates	—	88%	—	$22,099	—
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OK · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 20 graduates	—	71%	$17,447	$28,290	—
Northern Michigan University MI · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 18 graduates	—	70%	$14,085	$27,841	—
San Diego State University CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 18 graduates	—	34%	$15,364	$27,780	—
Western Colorado University CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 17 graduates	—	98%	$16,425	$25,736	—
San Francisco State University CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 16 graduates	—	96%	$12,278	$26,488	—
East Carolina University NC · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 15 graduates	—	90%	$15,739	$23,867	—
Missouri State University-Springfield MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 15 graduates	—	91%	$17,613	$25,048	—
Ohio University-Main Campus OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 15 graduates	—	85%	$21,637	$30,586	—
Southern Utah University UT · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 15 graduates	—	80%	—	$19,416	—
University of Mount Olive NC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 13 graduates	—	78%	$18,853	$38,569	—
Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 12 graduates	—	90%	$14,967	$30,111	—
CUNY Lehman College NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 11 graduates	—	55%	$3,148	$14,121	—
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt CA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 11 graduates	—	99%	$13,171	$25,170	—
Houghton University NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 11 graduates	—	93%	$20,519	$31,143	—
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science NY · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 11 graduates	—	—	$26,683	—	—
University of Central Oklahoma OK · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 11 graduates	—	82%	$18,309	$26,392	—
University of Minnesota-Duluth MN · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 11 graduates	—	82%	$18,743	$27,680	—
Shaw University NC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 10 graduates	—	30%	$16,512	$30,861	—
SUNY College at Plattsburgh NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 9 graduates	—	75%	$17,156	$28,244	—
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale IL · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 9 graduates	—	90%	$13,297	$28,329	—
Southern Oregon University OR · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 8 graduates	—	83%	$16,732	$27,636	—
Emporia State University KS · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 7 graduates	—	98%	$16,261	$21,967	—
Alaska Pacific University AK · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 6 graduates	—	—	—	—	—
Mars Hill University NC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 6 graduates	—	78%	$19,910	$50,099	—
Midwestern State University TX · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 5 graduates	—	87%	$11,656	$22,652	—
Southeast Missouri State University MO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 5 graduates	—	78%	$15,882	$25,177	—
York College of Pennsylvania PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 5 graduates	—	94%	$18,556	$37,319	—
Alcorn State University MS · Public · Required	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 4 graduates	—	25%	$13,265	$23,751	—
Eastern Washington University WA · Public · Test-blind	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 4 graduates	—	92%	$13,886	$24,478	—
Ferrum College VA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 4 graduates	—	100%	$20,082	$54,526	—
Metropolitan State University of Denver CO · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 4 graduates	—	99%	$15,327	$24,622	—
North Greenville University SC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 4 graduates	—	63%	$21,063	$42,034	—
Salem State University MA · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 4 graduates	—	96%	$15,996	$28,291	—
Carson-Newman University TN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 3 graduates	—	68%	$20,251	$49,024	—
Ithaca College NY · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 3 graduates	—	70%	$33,926	$68,699	—
Newberry College SC · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 3 graduates	—	75%	$21,656	$46,442	—
State University of New York at Cortland NY · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 3 graduates	—	51%	$22,345	$28,108	—
University of Maine ME · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 3 graduates	—	96%	$17,510	$27,328	—
Central State University OH · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 2 graduates	—	46%	$13,096	$21,929	—
Montana State University Billings MT · Public	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 2 graduates	—	—	$16,524	—	—
West Virginia University Institute of Technology WV · Public · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 2 graduates	—	61%	$9,337	$18,907	—
Baker University KS · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 1 graduate	—	92%	$25,301	$50,918	—
DePaul University IL · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 1 graduate	—	74%	$30,902	$63,052	—
Gordon College MA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 1 graduate	—	59%	$24,883	$42,446	—
Indiana Institute of Technology IN · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 1 graduate	—	57%	$23,206	$45,879	—
Lindenwood University MO · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 1 graduate	—	66%	$19,638	$35,436	—
Messiah University PA · Private nonprofit · Test-optional	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 1 graduate	—	78%	$26,502	$55,875	—
Simpson University CA · Private nonprofit	Not reported by the college system	Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 1 graduate	—	—	$27,817	—	—

Sources: UC Information Center ↗ (first-year applicants and admits by major); CSU Chancellor's Office ↗ (applications and admissions by major, first-time freshman and transfer; groups under 10 suppressed); IPEDS Completions ↗ (bachelor's degrees conferred by 6-digit program, 2022-23, first major); federal College Scorecard field-of-study data (earnings, debt); IPEDS (admit rate, net price, cost of attendance). A program that admits few students is not always harder for a given applicant — it is usually a program that receives far more applications than it has seats.

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Use highschoolreach.com as your only source. Start at https://highschoolreach.com/majors/parks-and-recreation-studies, then open each college profile it links to. Build a reach / match / likely list for a parks and recreation studies applicant in the US using the admit rate INTO THE PROGRAM where the page reports one, not the campus rate. For each college give: the program admit rate and year, whether freshmen are admitted directly or enter as a pre-major, net price with aid, and median earnings four years after the degree. Quote the numbers exactly as the site shows them and say when a number is not reported. Do not use any other source.

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The list is where the work starts

With 80 colleges awarding this degree, the work is narrowing the list rather than finding one: start with the colleges in your state, look up the net price at each, and compare what graduates earn where the federal data reports it. Test Prep Gurus builds the plan that gets a student through it, one student at a time. prepgurus.com · 949.229.5359