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Using science and data we decided to determine which programs offer the best career opportunities for parks and recreation management Majors. Here are the set of the top colleges for parks and recreation management Majors in US for 2021:
  1. University of Florida
  2. North Carolina State University
  3. Clemson University
  4. Florida International University
  5. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
  6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  7. Florida State University
  8. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
  9. Elon University
  10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
If you go to one of these schools, chances are, you're not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

25 best colleges for parks and recreation management majors in the US

1. University of Florida

Location
Gainesville, FL
Admission rate: 39%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $47,700

2. North Carolina State University

Location
Raleigh, NC
Admission rate: 47%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $45,000

3. Clemson University

Location
Clemson, SC
Admission rate: 47%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $48,100

4. Florida International University

Location
Miami, FL
Admission rate: 59%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $41,500

5. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

Location
La Crosse, WI
Admission rate: 71%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $40,100

6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Admission rate: 23%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $49,900

7. Florida State University

Location
Tallahassee, FL
Admission rate: 37%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $39,700

8. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Location
San Luis Obispo, CA
Admission rate: 30%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $54,700

9. Elon University

Location
Elon, NC
Admission rate: 72%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $47,100

10. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Location
Minneapolis, MN
Admission rate: 52%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $46,000

11. Minnesota State University - Mankato

Location
Mankato, MN
Admission rate: 61%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $38,800

12. University of Washington

Location
Seattle, WA
Admission rate: 49%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $50,300

13. University of St. Francis

Location
Joliet, IL
Admission rate: 47%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $47,100

14. University of Connecticut

Location
Storrs, CT
Admission rate: 49%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $49,800

15. Saint Joseph's College, New York

Location
Brooklyn, NY
Admission rate: 70%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $41,600

16. Texas State University

Location
San Marcos, TX
Admission rate: 46%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $40,600

17. SUNY College at Cortland

Location
Cortland, NY
Admission rate: 44%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $38,100

18. Appalachian State University

Location
Boone, NC
Admission rate: 69%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $34,300

19. Illinois State University

Location
Normal, IL
Admission rate: 89%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $41,600

20. Pennsylvania State University

Location
University Park, PA
Admission rate: 56%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $43,600

21. University of New Hampshire

Location
Durham, NH
Admission rate: 77%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $44,900

22. Texas A&M University

Location
College Station, TX
Admission rate: 68%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $53,600

23. New York University

Location
New York, NY
Admission rate: 20%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $55,900

24. University of Mississippi

Location
University, MS
Admission rate: 88%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $41,300

25. SUNY College at Brockport

Location
Brockport, NY
Admission rate: 53%
Mean earning of students 6 years after entry: $36,200

How we determined the best parks and recreation management colleges

We looked at the following data from the NCES (National Center For Education Statistics) and College Scorecard data from ED.gov to understand what parks and recreation management departments offer the best career opportunities:
  • Percentage of Graduating Class That Are Business Majors
  • Mean Earnings After 10 Years
  • Mean Earnings After 6 Years
  • Admission Rate (More selective the better)
  • Average cost of attendance (Lower is better)
  • Median amount of debt
  • Ratio of people working to not working after 10 years