Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
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Program Rankings · California

Best Parks, Recreation & Fitness Colleges in California

Ranked by a weighted composite of outcomes, affordability, selectivity, academic profile, and program depth. Based on NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data.

146
Colleges Ranked
59
4-Year Programs
120
Public Colleges
American River
Top Ranked
Ranking Methodology: Each college earns a major score = 70% global composite score (outcomes 30%, affordability 25%, selectivity 20%, academic 15%, breadth 10%) + 30% program depth score (graduates in this major ÷ total enrollment, normalized across all US colleges).
1
56
American River College
Sacramento · Public · 2-year
078 graduates/yr
#277 nationally
2
56
East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park · Public · 2-year
$1,196 in-state201 graduates/yr
#279 nationally
3
55
Cerritos College
Norwalk · Public · 2-year
$1,288 in-state132 graduates/yr
#338 nationally
#4
55
Chaffey College
Rancho Cucamonga · Public · 2-year
$1,104 in-state156 graduates/yr
#339 nationally
#5
55
City College of San Francisco
San Francisco · Public · 2-year
093 graduates/yr
#340 nationally
#6
55
De Anza College
Cupertino · Public · 2-year
$1,395 in-state96 graduates/yr
#341 nationally
#7
55
Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill · Public · 2-year
$1,288 in-state168 graduates/yr
#342 nationally
#8
55
El Camino Community College District
Torrance · Public · 2-year
$1,104 in-state156 graduates/yr
#330 nationally
#9
55
Fresno City College
Fresno · Public · 2-year
$1,288 in-state330 graduates/yr
#343 nationally
#10
55
Fullerton College
Fullerton · Public · 2-year
$1,104 in-state105 graduates/yr
#344 nationally
#11
55
Long Beach City College
Long Beach · Public · 2-year
$1,472 in-state225 graduates/yr
#346 nationally
#12
55
Los Angeles Pierce College
Woodland Hills · Public · 2-year
$1,196 in-state24 graduates/yr
#347 nationally
#13
55
Mt San Jacinto Community College District
San Jacinto · Public · 2-year
$1,380 in-state126 graduates/yr
#349 nationally
#14
55
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa · Public · 2-year
$1,104 in-state78 graduates/yr
#350 nationally
#15
55
Palomar College
San Marcos · Public · 2-year
$1,288 in-state15 graduates/yr
#352 nationally
About Parks, Recreation & Fitness Programs in California

California offers 146 accredited parks, recreation & fitness programs across public and private institutions. Our rankings use NCES IPEDS 2023–24 completions data to measure how many graduates each college produces in this field relative to its total enrollment, combined with overall college quality metrics.

The ranking formula weights overall college quality at 70% — covering graduation outcomes, net price affordability, admissions selectivity, and academic profile of enrolled students — and program-specific depth at 30%, rewarding schools that genuinely specialize in parks, recreation & fitness.

For in-state students, public colleges often offer significantly lower costs. Complete the FAFSA to determine need-based aid eligibility regardless of your income level. Aid availability can dramatically change the actual cost of attendance.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our composite ranking — which weighs outcomes (graduation rates), affordability (net price), selectivity, academic profile, and program depth — the top-ranked college for Parks, Recreation & Fitness in California is American River College. We rank all accredited institutions offering this program using NCES IPEDS 2023–24 data.

Explore Other Majors in California