Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies

Salary data, best schools, and honest ROI assessment

Avg Earnings (4yr)

$35,352

Median Earnings

$49,468

Schools Offering

ROI Grade

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

25th: $45,159Median: $49,46875th: $55,280

Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies by Earnings

#	School	ROI	4yr Earnings	Net Price	Major Debt	Grade
1	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo CA · Public	96	$75,181	$16,665	$16,369	B
2	California State University-East Bay CA · Public	81	$68,227	$9,320	$20,306	C+
3	University of South Dakota SD · Public	50	$64,104	$19,858	N/A	-
4	Brigham Young University UT · Private	94	$63,080	$15,564	$12,000	B+
5	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL · Public	93	$61,313	$14,355	$23,447	C
6	University of Utah UT · Public	84	$59,855	$16,200	$22,982	C
7	California State University-Chico CA · Public	82	$59,765	$14,480	$18,179	C+
8	California State University-Sacramento CA · Public	83	$59,041	$9,338	$20,024	C+
9	Metropolitan State University of Denver CO · Public	46	$57,810	$15,327	N/A	-
10	Indiana University-Bloomington IN · Public	84	$57,334	$16,264	$19,750	C
11	University of Iowa IA · Public	76	$57,098	$22,531	$25,691	C
12	San Diego State University CA · Public	84	$57,093	$15,364	$14,999	B
13	Kutztown University of Pennsylvania PA · Public	45	$56,525	$21,331	$27,000	D
14	California State University-Fresno CA · Public	81	$56,336	$7,000	$14,061	B
15	University of Missouri-Columbia MO · Public	77	$55,280	$20,268	$21,500	C
16	San Francisco State University CA · Public	80	$55,212	$12,278	$16,797	C
17	University of Nebraska at Kearney NE · Public	55	$54,563	$16,242	$23,500	D
18	Winona State University MN · Public	69	$54,381	$17,503	$21,148	C
19	California State University-Long Beach CA · Public	86	$53,933	$10,440	$14,500	B
20	University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN · Public	88	$53,854	$16,778	$25,369	D
21	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus OH · Public	32	$53,809	$24,022	$26,000	D
22	Texas A&M University-College Station TX · Public	89	$53,374	$21,315	N/A	-
23	University of Arkansas AR · Public	69	$52,701	$18,209	$23,310	D
24	Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ · Public	77	$52,355	$14,967	$22,396	C+
25	Midwestern State University TX · Public	65	$51,917	$11,656	N/A	-
26	Shepherd University WV · Public	50	$51,789	$11,363	$24,950	D
27	Gordon College MA · Private	46	$51,479	$24,883	N/A	-
28	Western Washington University WA · Public	72	$50,832	$21,193	$17,897	C
29	Northern Arizona University AZ · Public	64	$50,501	$14,158	$21,500	C
30	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OK · Public	70	$49,468	$17,447	$21,313	C
31	Ohio University-Eastern Campus OH · Public	62	$49,369	$3,925	N/A	-
32	Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus OH · Public	60	$49,369	$5,755	N/A	-
33	Ohio University-Main Campus OH · Public	48	$49,369	$21,637	N/A	-
34	Ohio University-Zanesville Campus OH · Public	60	$49,369	$5,746	N/A	-
35	Radford University VA · Public	56	$48,743	$14,578	$26,000	D
36	University of Northern Iowa IA · Public	69	$48,506	$15,901	$23,907	C
37	Western Colorado University CO · Public	38	$48,109	$16,425	$19,507	D
38	East Carolina University NC · Public	61	$47,336	$15,739	$19,587	C
39	CUNY Lehman College NY · Public	78	$47,163	$3,148	N/A	-
40	University of South Alabama AL · Public	37	$46,912	$17,648	$26,750	D
41	Emporia State University KS · Public	44	$46,887	$16,261	N/A	-
42	Oregon State University OR · Public	75	$46,044	$19,604	$22,500	C
43	Oregon State University-Cascades Campus OR · Public	73	$46,044	$18,048	$22,500	C
44	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale IL · Public	60	$45,623	$13,297	$20,525	C
45	Grambling State University LA · Public	12	$45,159	$19,809	$41,750	F
46	University of Southern Mississippi MS · Public	27	$45,056	$21,708	$29,460	F
47	University of North Carolina at Greensboro NC · Public	47	$42,838	$10,965	$26,000	D
48	Georgia Southern University GA · Public	52	$42,573	$15,267	$24,936	D
49	Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science NY · Private	30	$41,797	$26,683	$23,250	D
50	Missouri State University-Springfield MO · Public	46	$41,550	$17,613	$27,457	D

Below Average Value

Is Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies Worth It?

Proceed With a Plan

The financial returns for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies are below average. At $35,352 in average earnings four years out, graduates often face a long payback period, especially at higher-cost institutions. This doesn't mean the field is worthless - it means the financial math demands careful attention to school cost and debt levels.

This is a more specialized field, offered at 62 schools in our dataset. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so pay close attention to the financial aid packages you receive.

The top school for this major by earnings is University of South Dakota, where graduates earn $64,104 four years out. But averages hide a wide range - where you attend and what you do with the degree matter as much as the major itself.

Best ROI Schools for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies All Majors ROI Calculator Compare Schools

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies

Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)

Best Schools for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies by Earnings

Is Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies Worth It?

Proceed With a Plan

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