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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #61 | Saint Paul, MN | $53,550 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $21,812 | 91.9% | 68.4% | |
| #62 | West Lafayette, IN | $53,337 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $4,927 | 50.3% | 83.1% | |
| #63 | Houghton, MI | $53,316 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $5,021 | 87.9% | 68.7% | |
| #64 | Texas Woman's UniversityPublic | Denton, TX | $53,255 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $8,378 | 95.0% | 44.2% |
| #65 | Lagrange CollegePrivate | Lagrange, GA | $53,191 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $10,585 | 63.2% | 41.8% |
| #66 | Springfield CollegePrivate | Springfield, MA | $53,187 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $21,252 | — | 67.6% |
| #67 | Robert Morris UniversityPrivate | Moon Township, PA | $52,507 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $22,158 | 90.6% | 65.5% |
| #68 | West Chester, PA | $52,434 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $16,800 | 79.2% | 69.8% | |
| #69 | St. Thomas Aquinas CollegePrivate | Sparkill, NY | $52,430 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $13,977 | 82.2% | 62.6% |
| #70 | Emory UniversityPrivate | Atlanta, GA | $52,404 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $6,895 | 11.1% | 91.8% |
| #71 | Sacramento, CA | $52,343 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $7,306 | 93.6% | 55.8% | |
| #72 | Upper Iowa UniversityPrivate | Fayette, IA | $52,336 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $27,503 | 93.4% | 41.5% |
| #73 | Oral Roberts UniversityPrivate | Tulsa, OK | $52,302 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $20,412 | 98.6% | 53.9% |
| #74 | Temple UniversityPublic | Philadelphia, PA | $52,232 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $23,080 | 82.9% | 74.7% |
| #75 | Manhattan CollegePrivate | Riverdale, NY | $52,166 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $24,024 | 78.5% | 66.0% |
| #76 | Salisbury UniversityPublic | Salisbury, MD | $52,136 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $7,351 | 88.6% | 67.5% |
| #77 | Saint Edward's UniversityPrivate | Austin, TX | $51,999 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $18,740 | 83.7% | 64.2% |
| #78 | Trine UniversityPrivate | Angola, IN | $51,996 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $18,615 | 84.7% | 67.6% |
| #79 | Simpson CollegePrivate | Indianola, IA | $51,909 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $15,172 | 88.9% | 65.7% |
| #80 | University Of The PacificPrivate | Stockton, CA | $51,888 Median Parks & Recreation Earnings | $17,716 | 94.9% | 67.8% |
