Compare 62 Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $39,579. Top programs: $61,694+.
The highest-earning Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $22K earnings gap across 62 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
San Jose State University's Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program leads with graduates earning $61,694—significantly above the $39,579 average. California State University-Chico follows at $54,762, while University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign rounds out the top three at $54,075, proving regional publics compete with prestigious institutions.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $61,694 | 31 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $54,762 | 87 | $16,552 | Excellent | $17,585 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $54,075 | 99 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #4 | $52,683 | 121 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable | |
| #5 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $51,688 | 78 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Good |
| #6 | University Of ArkansasPublic | $51,683 | 101 | $21,500 | Good | $28,086 | High |
| #7 | $50,525 | 35 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Challenging | |
| #8 | $49,007 | 25 | $19,500 | Good | $23,519 | Challenging | |
| #9 | University Of IowaPublic | $48,348 | 67 | $22,500 | Good | $27,975 | High |
| #10 | $47,830 | 32 | $16,544 | Good | $15,738 | Challenging | |
| #11 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $47,694 | 20 | $21,221 | Good | $28,923 | High |
| #12 | $47,372 | 57 | $19,500 | Good | $14,457 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $46,530 | 126 | $20,500 | Good | $32,529 | High | |
| #14 | $46,193 | 37 | $14,505 | Good | $12,050 | Manageable | |
| #15 | $45,975 | 41 | $15,000 | Good | $25,565 | High | |
| #16 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $45,648 | 38 | $21,500 | Manageable | $19,316 | High |
| #17 | $45,480 | 17 | $21,500 | Manageable | $13,743 | Challenging | |
| #18 | $45,351 | 67 | $26,000 | Manageable | $26,389 | High | |
| #19 | Shepherd UniversityPublic | $44,875 | 40 | $21,600 | Manageable | $21,546 | High |
| #20 | $44,407 | 87 | $14,289 | Good | $15,177 | Challenging | |
| #21 | $43,994 | 26 | $19,500 | Manageable | $25,729 | High | |
| #22 | $43,499 | 181 | $19,509 | Manageable | $32,850 | High | |
| #23 | Radford UniversityPublic | $43,089 | 60 | $24,000 | Manageable | $22,158 | High |
| #24 | $42,893 | 15 | $20,332 | Manageable | $21,279 | High | |
| #25 | $42,815 | 30 | $21,992 | Manageable | $15,092 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
