Parks and Recreation programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $16,478 to $73,106, demonstrating significant variation across 507 programs. The median earnings of $43,348 reflect diverse pathways in recreation management and outdoor careers, where program selection directly impacts long-term earning potential.
Leading the list is University of Scranton, achieving the highest program earnings at $73,106. The top tier includes Pepperdine University ($72,554) and Saint Louis University ($72,217), with these programs demonstrating how quality recreation management education translates into strong graduate outcomes that exceed typical expectations for the field.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of ScrantonPrivate | Scranton, PA | $73,106 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $17,968 | 84.4% | 80.8% |
| #2 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | Malibu, CA | $72,554 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $36,463 | 49.9% | 84.7% |
| #3 | Saint Louis UniversityPrivate | Saint Louis, MO | $72,217 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $20,869 | 81.5% | 79.8% |
| #4 | Dallas, TX | $70,754 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $30,165 | 61.2% | 83.3% | |
| #5 | Wisconsin Lutheran CollegePrivate | Milwaukee, WI | $69,604 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $14,218 | 79.0% | 62.7% |
| #6 | University Of DelawarePublic | Newark, DE | $69,499 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $9,354 | 65.1% | 78.8% |
| #7 | Ann Arbor, MI | $68,944 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $4,926 | 17.9% | 93.2% | |
| #8 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | Winston-Salem, NC | $68,083 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $11,554 | 21.6% | 90.9% |
| #9 | Simmons UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $67,028 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $19,518 | 66.0% | 71.3% |
| #10 | University Of New EnglandPrivate | Biddeford, ME | $66,824 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $33,195 | 88.8% | 60.8% |
| #11 | Milligan UniversityPrivate | Milligan, TN | $65,830 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $12,172 | 70.3% | 60.3% |
| #12 | Depauw UniversityPrivate | Greencastle, IN | $65,300 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $12,267 | 54.1% | 80.0% |
| #13 | Walsh UniversityPrivate | North Canton, OH | $64,683 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $14,430 | 78.2% | 61.7% |
| #14 | Kenosha, WI | $62,261 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $5,551 | 72.6% | 39.8% | |
| #15 | Rice UniversityPrivate | Houston, TX | $62,105 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $3,221 | 7.9% | 95.7% |
| #16 | Charleston, SC | $62,053 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $12,055 | 98.1% | 72.8% | |
| #17 | Carroll UniversityPrivate | Waukesha, WI | $60,982 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $18,992 | 58.4% | 69.6% |
| #18 | Marshall, TX | $59,336 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $20,306 | 60.1% | 48.0% | |
| #19 | New Brunswick, NJ | $59,290 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $15,885 | 65.3% | 85.0% | |
| #20 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | Syracuse, NY | $59,233 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $21,505 | 41.7% | 81.3% |
