Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Michigan (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 21 colleges in Michigan that offer a Parks & Recreation program and have a reported earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 1st on this list, with median earnings of $79,411 for its graduates four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the figures range from $79,411 to $21,508, with a median of $51,806.
The list includes 9 public and 12 private nonprofit institutions. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks 16th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its six-year completion rate of 93% is the highest on the page. Saginaw Valley State University posts the lowest average net price, at $10,775.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI | $79,411 | $13,138 | $1,043 | 15.6% |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor reports $79,411 in median earnings of Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 16%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (263 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($79,411) | |||||
| 2 | Michigan State University · East Lansing, MI | $66,110 | $19,680 | $7,068 | 84.8% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 81%, Michigan State University posts median earnings of $66,110 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (312 graduates), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management (22 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($67,290) | |||||
| 3 | Alma College · Alma, MI | $63,641 | $20,694 | $17,162 | 57.0% |
| Alma College, a private nonprofit institution in Alma, has an average net price of $20,694 and ranks 3rd on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (31 graduates) | |||||
| 4 | Central Michigan University · Mount Pleasant, MI | $57,771 | $17,597 | $12,185 | 89.8% |
| Central Michigan University admits 90% of applicants and reports $57,771 in median earnings for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (213 graduates), Outdoor Education (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($57,771) | |||||
| 5 | Cornerstone University · Grand Rapids, MI | $56,231 | $20,301 | $20,177 | 77.8% |
| Cornerstone University ranks 5th on this page, with an average net price of $20,177 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($56,231) | |||||
| 6 | Davenport University · Grand Rapids, MI | $54,729 | $17,707 | $16,700 | 97.8% |
| Davenport University has a six-year completion rate of 57% and reports median earnings of $54,729 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($54,729) | |||||
| 7 | Calvin University · Grand Rapids, MI | $53,949 | $22,992 | $19,281 | 70.9% |
| Calvin University ranks 1140th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an admission rate of 71%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($53,949) | |||||
| 8 | Hope College · Holland, MI | $53,340 | $27,182 | $17,606 | 79.2% |
| Hope College reports $53,340 in median earnings for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $27,182. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (44 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($53,340) | |||||
| 9 | Grand Valley State University · Allendale, MI | $53,175 | $16,317 | $12,272 | 83.0% |
| Grand Valley State University admits 83% of applicants and has a six-year completion rate of 67%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (267 graduates) | |||||
| 10 | Eastern Michigan University · Ypsilanti, MI | $52,624 | $15,407 | $13,250 | 79.6% |
| Eastern Michigan University ranks 10th on this list, with median earnings of $52,624 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (85 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($52,624) | |||||
| 11 | Aquinas College · Grand Rapids, MI | $51,806 | $16,626 | $10,725 | 89.9% |
| Aquinas College has an average net price of $10,725 for families earning under $30,000 and reports median earnings of $51,806 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($51,806) | |||||
| 12 | Adrian College · Adrian, MI | $51,559 | $25,368 | $19,542 | 72.5% |
| Adrian College has a six-year completion rate of 48% and ranks 1317th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (54 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($51,559) | |||||
| 13 | Saginaw Valley State University · University Center, MI | $50,816 | $10,775 | $9,844 | 72.1% |
| Saginaw Valley State University reports median earnings of $50,816 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing, and its average net price of $10,775 is the lowest on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (47 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($50,816) | |||||
| 14 | Northwood University · Midland, MI | $50,699 | $27,232 | $25,700 | 64.5% |
| Northwood University, a private nonprofit university in Midland, ranks 14th on this list and shows a six-year completion rate of 63%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($50,699) | |||||
| 15 | Michigan Technological University · Houghton, MI | $50,388 | $14,182 | $2,045 | 92.4% |
| Michigan Technological University admits 92% of applicants and reports median earnings of $50,388 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (21 graduates) | |||||
| 16 | Western Michigan University · Kalamazoo, MI | $50,134 | $15,273 | $5,263 | 84.6% |
| Western Michigan University ranks 353rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and posts an average net price of $5,263 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (146 graduates), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management (5 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($50,134) | |||||
| 17 | Albion College · Albion, MI | $49,451 | $14,301 | $10,036 | 80.7% |
| Albion College graduates 62% of its students within six years, and its Parks & Recreation graduates earn a median of $49,451 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($49,451) | |||||
| 18 | Northern Michigan University · Marquette, MI | $45,842 | $14,085 | $7,697 | 84.0% |
| Northern Michigan University ranks 18th on this list, with median earnings of $45,842 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (51 graduates), Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies (18 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($47,613) | |||||
| 19 | Rochester Christian University · Rochester Hills, MI | $45,314 | $21,456 | $18,463 | 97.7% |
| Rochester Christian University admits 98% of applicants and reports an average net price of $18,463 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (22 graduates) | |||||
| 20 | The University of Olivet · Olivet, MI | $43,475 | $21,393 | $19,656 | 83.3% |
| The University of Olivet shows a six-year completion rate of 35% and median earnings of $43,475 for its Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness ($43,475) | |||||
| 21 | Spring Arbor University · Spring Arbor, MI | $21,508 | $19,353 | $14,530 | 51.5% |
| Spring Arbor University reports median earnings of $21,508 for its Parks & Recreation graduates two years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 52%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness (14 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Parks & Recreation graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Parks & Recreation earnings cohort in Michigan appear. The figures are medians for federally aided Parks & Recreation graduates who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. For 1 of the 21 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor to the lowest listed school spans $57,903, with a gap of $13,301 between University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Michigan State University.
Job market context in Michigan
The occupations linked to Parks & Recreation in Michigan include roles such as Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers, Recreation Workers, and Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors. The median annual wage across those occupations is $39,808, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $33,831. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 2.0% higher, with 18,560 projected openings a year, or about 912 openings a year for every hundred graduates, suggesting more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. These market figures describe the occupations, not the earnings of any listed program; the ranking above uses the median earnings of graduates four years after completing.
Related rankings
- Best Colleges in Michigan
- Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Illinois
- Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Ohio
- Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Missouri
- Best Parks & Recreation Colleges in Pennsylvania
- Parks & Recreation Colleges in Michigan for Social Mobility