Compare 17 Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $39,915.
The highest-earning Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $29K earnings gap across 17 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. Regional universities consistently compete with flagship institutions in this field.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's program leads with graduates earning $54,075, well above the $39,915 average. But the story extends beyond rankings—University of Iowa ($48,348) and University of Nebraska at Kearney ($47,372) demonstrate how regional programs deliver strong outcomes, often with better accessibility than selective alternatives.
Highest program earnings: $54,075
Strong outcomes with 84.7% acceptance
8.5% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
20.0% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $54,075 | 99 | $19,500 | Good | $34,511 | High | |
| #2 | University Of IowaPublic | $48,348 | 67 | $22,500 | Good | $27,975 | High |
| #3 | $47,372 | 57 | $19,500 | Good | $14,457 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $46,530 | 126 | $20,500 | Good | $32,529 | High | |
| #5 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $45,648 | 38 | $21,500 | Manageable | $19,316 | High |
| #6 | $43,994 | 26 | $19,500 | Manageable | $25,729 | High | |
| #7 | $43,499 | 181 | $19,509 | Manageable | $32,850 | High | |
| #8 | $42,815 | 30 | $21,992 | Manageable | $15,092 | High | |
| #9 | $42,389 | 43 | $21,500 | Manageable | $15,803 | High | |
| #10 | $41,853 | 48 | $19,691 | Manageable | $17,670 | High | |
| #11 | Chadron State CollegePublic | $38,817 | 17 | $18,875 | Manageable | $10,035 | High |
| #12 | $37,755 | 55 | $25,000 | Challenging | $25,947 | High | |
| #13 | $35,587 | 23 | $18,969 | Challenging | $10,000 | High | |
| #14 | $30,409 | 21 | $21,543 | High | $19,500 | High | |
| #15 | $28,309 | 21 | $21,056 | High | $23,508 | High | |
| #16 | Central State UniversityPublic | $25,967 | 9 | $30,739 | High | $17,178 | High |
| #17 | $25,194 | 29 | $21,474 | High | $17,287 | 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 →
