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CIP 31.0301 Parks, Recreation and Fitness

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

Total graduates

2,082

2025 · 110 schools

International share

2.3%

48 international students

Bachelor's degrees

1,747

1.7% international

Master's degrees

231

5.2% international

Overview

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the planning, development, and management of public parks, recreational areas, and leisure facilities. This program equips students with the skills necessary to create and maintain engaging environments that promote community health, wellness, and social interaction.

Students in this major typically study a variety of topics, including facility management, recreation programming, environmental sustainability, and community engagement strategies. Courses may cover areas such as event planning, sports management, landscape design, and public policy related to recreation and leisure services. This broad curriculum prepares graduates to address the diverse needs of communities and to foster inclusive recreational opportunities for all demographic groups.

The importance of this field cannot be overstated, as parks and recreational facilities play a crucial role in enhancing quality of life, supporting physical health, and improving mental well-being. Professionals in this area often work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies, managing parks, recreation centers, sports complexes, and outdoor adventure programs.

Moreover, with the growing emphasis on sustainable practices and environmental stewardship, graduates are increasingly equipped to implement eco-friendly initiatives within their facilities and programs. The field is evolving, embracing technology and innovative approaches to meet contemporary recreational needs, making it an exciting and rewarding career path for those passionate about community service and outdoor enjoyment.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates fell 35% and the international share went from 1.9% to 2.3%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
69.4%
Asian
0.9%
Hispanic
10.9%
Black
10.8%
Other
5.7%
Intl.
2.3%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 110 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#34 University of Florida Florida 61 4
#55 The Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania 108 3
#59 Florida State University Florida 35 0
#69 Michigan State University Michigan 12 1
#73 North Carolina State University at Raleigh North Carolina 54 1
#80 Clemson University South Carolina 157 3
#100 Florida International University Florida 106 4
#109 University of New Hampshire-Main Campus New Hampshire 80 0
#121 George Mason University Virginia 6 0
#156 Kansas State University Kansas 8 0
#169 Colorado State University-Fort Collins Colorado 84 5
#179 University of Mississippi Mississippi 54 0
#191 University of Arkansas Arkansas 24 2
#208 University of Idaho Idaho 26 0
#208 University of North Carolina at Greensboro North Carolina 9 0
#208 University of North Texas Texas 44 0
#219 Illinois State University Illinois 61 0
#219 University of North Carolina--Wilmington North Carolina 32 0
#227 West Virginia University West Virginia 12 0
#236 Kent State University at Kent Ohio 6 1
#236 Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 47 0
#250 South Dakota State University South Dakota 43 0
#262 Aurora University Illinois 7 0
#262 University of Maine Maine 10 0
#276 University of St. Francis Illinois 5 0
#276 Western Michigan University Michigan 1 0
#288 Texas State University Texas 21 0
#299 Southern Connecticut State University Connecticut 25 0
#308 North Carolina Central University North Carolina 16 0
#317 Kean University New Jersey 17 0
#317 Marshall University West Virginia 10 0
#328 Old Dominion University Virginia 8 0
#342 University of Northern Colorado Colorado 7 0
#353 University of West Georgia Georgia 42 0
#365 Eastern Washington University Washington 5 0
#382 Chicago State University Illinois 1 0
#382 Southwestern Oklahoma State University Oklahoma 15 0
LAC #172 Brigham Young University-Idaho Idaho 44 0
LAC #180 Alabama State University Alabama 4 0
LAC #181 Warren Wilson College North Carolina 1 0
LAC #184 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 2 0
LAC #184 Utah Tech University Utah 34 1
— Appalachian State University North Carolina 71 0
— Western Kentucky University Kentucky 43 2
— Johnson & Wales University-Providence Rhode Island 37 1
— Western Carolina University North Carolina 33 0
— Middle Tennessee State University Tennessee 32 0
— Frostburg State University Maryland 31 1
— Eastern Kentucky University Kentucky 27 0
— University of Wisconsin--La Crosse Wisconsin 27 0
— Western Illinois University Illinois 26 4
— New England College New Hampshire 23 2
— University of Florida-Online Florida 19 0
— Pennsylvania State University-World Campus Pennsylvania 17 1
— Colorado Mesa University Colorado 16 0
— Belmont Abbey College North Carolina 16 1
— Johnson & Wales University-Online Rhode Island 16 1
— Towson University Maryland 15 0
— Minnesota State University-Mankato Minnesota 15 0
— Missouri Western State University Missouri 15 0
— Arkansas Tech University Arkansas 14 0
— Herkimer County Community College New York 13 2
— Green River College Washington 13 0
— Santa Rosa Junior College California 12 0
— Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Missouri 11 4
— Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte North Carolina 11 1
— Springfield College Massachusetts 10 0
— SUNY Brockport New York 10 0
— Lees-McRae College North Carolina 9 0
— Saint Cloud State University Minnesota 8 0
— Chowan University North Carolina 8 1
— Madison Area Technical College Wisconsin 8 1

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
General and Operations Managers 3,503,020 $64.87 $134,940
Facilities Managers 156,180 $56.20 $116,890
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling 37,980 $43.15 $89,750

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.