Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs
CIP 3101 · Parks, Recreation & Fitness · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
66 institutions report graduate earnings for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $49,369 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44× and 77% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 7 of the 69 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoCA · Bachelor's | $75,181 n=54 | 69% 1yr | $15,400 | 0.20× | Above +96% | – |
| 2 | California State University-East BayCA · Bachelor's | $68,227 n=26 | 59% 1yr | $19,500 | 0.29× | Above +77% | Clears 2/2 |
| 3 | University of South DakotaSD · Bachelor's | $64,104 n=23 | 91% 5yr | $26,750 | 0.42× | Above +74% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | Brigham Young UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $63,080 n=79 | 56% | $12,250 | 0.19× | Above +58% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Indiana University-BloomingtonIN · Master's | $62,051 n=21 | 75% 1yr | – | – | Above +7% | – |
| 6 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Bachelor's | $61,313 n=81 | 91% 5yr | $22,564 | 0.37× | Above +63% | Clears 2/2 |
| 7 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL · Master's | $59,898 n=50 | 100% 5yr | $30,099 | 0.50× | Below -13% | Below 2/2 |
| 8 | University of UtahUT · Bachelor's | $59,855 n=61 | 77% 5yr | $19,125 | 0.32× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | California State University-ChicoCA · Bachelor's | $59,765 n=110 | 86% | $17,886 | 0.30× | Above +55% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | California State University-SacramentoCA · Bachelor's | $59,041 n=108 | 82% | $19,181 | 0.33× | Above +54% | Clears 2/2 |
| 11 | Metropolitan State University of DenverCO · Bachelor's | $57,810 n=21 | 86% 5yr | $13,113 | 0.23× | Above +39% | Clears 2/2 |
| 12 | Indiana University-BloomingtonIN · Bachelor's | $57,334 n=174 | 85% | $19,261 | 0.34× | Above +53% | Clears 2/2 |
| 13 | University of IowaIA · Bachelor's | $57,098 n=52 | 90% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.44× | Above +48% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | San Diego State UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $57,093 n=50 | 91% 5yr | $14,999 | 0.26× | Above +49% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaPA · Bachelor's | $56,525 n=101 | 72% | $26,875 | 0.47× | Above +50% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | California State University-FresnoCA · Bachelor's | $56,336 n=74 | 76% 5yr | $14,061 | 0.25× | Above +47% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | University of ToledoOH · Master's | $56,105 n=26 | 79% 5yr | $25,015 | 0.45× | Below -11% | Below 2/2 |
| 18 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaMO · Bachelor's | $55,280 n=123 | 49% | $20,500 | 0.37× | Above +55% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | San Francisco State UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $55,212 n=57 | 77% 5yr | $16,500 | 0.30× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 20 | University of Nebraska at KearneyNE · Bachelor's | $54,563 n=80 | 85% 5yr | $21,000 | 0.39× | Above +47% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | Winona State UniversityMN · Bachelor's | $54,381 n=51 | 67% | $19,891 | 0.37× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | California State University-Long BeachCA · Bachelor's | $53,933 n=81 | 41% | $14,750 | 0.27× | Above +40% | Clears 2/2 |
| 23 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's | $53,854 n=29 | 69% 5yr | $14,050 | 0.26× | Above +35% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $53,809 n=110 | 79% 5yr | $26,000 | 0.48× | Above +46% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Bachelor's | $53,374 n=51 | 100% | $16,806 | 0.32× | Above +49% | Clears 2/2 |
| 26 | University of ArkansasAR · Bachelor's | $52,701 n=63 | 84% 5yr | $21,500 | 0.41× | Above +55% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $52,355 n=30 | 85% 5yr | $20,745 | 0.40× | Above +42% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Bachelor's | $52,355 n=30 | 85% 5yr | $20,745 | 0.40× | Above +42% | Clears 2/2 |
| 29 | Midwestern State UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $51,917 n=18 | – | $25,694 | 0.49× | Above +45% | Below 1/2 |
| 30 | Shepherd UniversityWV · Bachelor's | $51,789 n=55 | 73% | $22,625 | 0.44× | Above +47% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Gordon CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $51,479 n=17 | – | – | – | Above +18% | – |
| 32 | Western Washington UniversityWA · Bachelor's | $50,832 n=58 | 52% | $17,395 | 0.34× | Above +19% | Below 1/2 |
| 33 | Northern Arizona UniversityAZ · Bachelor's | $50,501 n=85 | 75% 5yr | $20,250 | 0.40× | Above +37% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusOK · Bachelor's | $49,468 n=22 | 71% 1yr | $18,131 | 0.37× | Above +40% | – |
| 35 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusOH · Bachelor's | $49,369 n=23 | – | $24,249 | 0.49× | Above +34% | – |
| 36 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusOH · Bachelor's | $49,369 n=23 | – | $24,249 | 0.49× | Above +34% | – |
| 37 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusOH · Bachelor's | $49,369 n=23 | – | $24,249 | 0.49× | Above +34% | – |
| 38 | Ohio University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's | $49,369 n=23 | – | $24,249 | 0.49× | Above +34% | – |
| 39 | Ohio University-Southern CampusOH · Bachelor's | $49,369 n=23 | – | $24,249 | 0.49× | Above +34% | – |
| 40 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusOH · Bachelor's | $49,369 n=23 | – | $24,249 | 0.49× | Above +34% | – |
| 41 | Radford UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $48,743 n=92 | 88% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.51× | Above +28% | Clears 2/2 |
| 42 | University of Northern IowaIA · Bachelor's | $48,506 n=81 | 58% | $20,000 | 0.41× | Above +26% | Clears 2/2 |
| 43 | Western Colorado UniversityCO · Bachelor's | $48,109 n=35 | – | $14,753 | 0.31× | Above +16% | Below 1/2 |
| 44 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIL · Master's | $47,469 n=20 | – | – | – | Below -31% | – |
| 45 | East Carolina UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $47,336 n=39 | 79% 5yr | $15,667 | 0.33× | Above +38% | Clears 2/2 |
| 46 | CUNY Lehman CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $47,163 n=22 | – | – | – | Above +24% | – |
| 47 | University of South AlabamaAL · Bachelor's | $46,912 n=61 | 70% 5yr | $26,500 | 0.56× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 48 | Emporia State UniversityKS · Bachelor's | $46,887 n=17 | – | $20,000 | 0.43× | Above +29% | – |
| 49 | Oregon State UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $46,044 n=21 | 77% 5yr | $20,104 | 0.44× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 50 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusOR · Bachelor's | $46,044 n=21 | 77% 5yr | $20,104 | 0.44× | Above +25% | Clears 2/2 |
| 51 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleIL · Bachelor's | $45,623 n=45 | 69% 5yr | $20,000 | 0.44× | Above +21% | – |
| 52 | Grambling State UniversityLA · Bachelor's | $45,159 n=31 | 66% 5yr | $34,750 | 0.77× | Above +30% | Below 1/2 |
| 53 | University of Southern MississippiMS · Bachelor's | $45,056 n=37 | – | $27,518 | 0.61× | Above +37% | – |
| 54 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroNC · Bachelor's | $42,838 n=75 | 55% 1yr | $24,250 | 0.57× | Above +25% | – |
| 55 | Georgia Southern UniversityGA · Bachelor's | $42,573 n=79 | 41% | $22,125 | 0.52× | Above +21% | Clears 2/2 |
| 56 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceNY · Bachelor's | $41,797 n=25 | – | $20,500 | 0.49× | Above +10% | – |
| 57 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldMO · Bachelor's | $41,550 n=42 | 79% 5yr | $21,250 | 0.51× | Above +16% | Clears 2/2 |
| 58 | Benedict CollegeSC · Bachelor's | $41,372 n=17 | – | $40,000 | 0.97× | Above +20% | – |
| 59 | Northern Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $40,825 n=39 | 51% 1yr | $20,000 | 0.49× | Above +16% | – |
| 60 | York College of PennsylvaniaPA · Bachelor's | $40,692 n=17 | – | $25,911 | 0.64× | Above +8% | – |
| 61 | California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtCA · Bachelor's | $40,566 n=18 | – | – | – | Above +6% | – |
| 62 | University of Minnesota-DuluthMN · Bachelor's | $40,452 n=21 | – | $25,000 | 0.62× | Above +1% | – |
| 63 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $40,266 n=20 | – | $19,566 | 0.49× | Above +13% | – |
| 64 | Central Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $39,947 n=33 | 84% 5yr | $30,250 | 0.76× | Above +14% | Clears 2/2 |
| 65 | Utah State UniversityUT · Bachelor's | $39,091 n=21 | – | – | – | Below -2% | Below 2/2 |
| 66 | University of Mount OliveNC · Bachelor's | $38,052 n=19 | – | $26,599 | 0.70× | Above +11% | – |
| 67 | Butler County Community CollegePA · Associate | $37,340 n=17 | – | – | – | Below -1% | – |
| 68 | Southern Oregon UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $36,135 n=22 | – | $21,500 | 0.59× | Below -2% | Below 1/2 |
| 69 | CUNY Kingsborough Community CollegeNY · Associate | $30,327 n=27 | – | – | – | Below -20% | Below 2/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | $59,855 | 3 |
| California | $57,093 | 9 |
| Minnesota | $53,854 | 3 |
| Illinois | $53,684 | 4 |
| Arizona | $52,355 | 3 |
| Ohio | $49,369 | 8 |
| Oregon | $46,044 | 3 |
| North Carolina | $42,838 | 3 |
| New York | $41,797 | 3 |
| Missouri | $41,550 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,692 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs in this dataset are California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($75,181), California State University-East Bay ($68,227), University of South Dakota ($64,104). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 7 of the 69 Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.