Compare 20 Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies. programs in the South. Average earnings: $35,646.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies tells a different story. Across 20 programs in the South, earnings range from $21,894 to $51,683—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
The University of Arkansas leads with graduates earning $51,683, nearly $16,000 above the regional average of $35,646. Shepherd University follows at $44,875, with Radford University close behind at $43,089. These outcomes prove that program-level factors drive career success more than institutional brand recognition.
Highest program earnings: $51,683
Strong outcomes with 72% acceptance
10.1% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
23.4% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of ArkansasPublic | $51,683 | 101 | $21,500 | Good | $28,086 | High |
| #2 | Shepherd UniversityPublic | $44,875 | 40 | $21,600 | Manageable | $21,546 | High |
| #3 | Radford UniversityPublic | $43,089 | 60 | $24,000 | Manageable | $22,158 | High |
| #4 | Virginia Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $42,565 | 9 | $27,000 | Challenging | $39,446 | High |
| #5 | $39,438 | 33 | $17,355 | Manageable | $9,924 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $39,424 | 10 | $22,077 | Manageable | $18,000 | High | |
| #7 | $39,133 | 49 | $24,929 | Challenging | $26,683 | High | |
| #8 | East Carolina UniversityPublic | $38,749 | 34 | $22,750 | Challenging | $19,710 | High |
| #9 | $38,555 | 55 | $23,250 | Challenging | $16,000 | High | |
| #10 | $37,393 | 40 | $20,500 | Challenging | $38,513 | High | |
| #11 | Howard UniversityPrivate | $35,755 | 9 | $24,500 | High | $58,682 | High |
| #12 | $34,475 | 16 | $21,030 | Challenging | $19,367 | High | |
| #13 | $31,561 | 69 | $22,858 | High | $14,638 | High | |
| #14 | $31,303 | 26 | $22,189 | High | $13,672 | High | |
| #15 | $31,093 | 30 | $36,500 | High | $21,007 | High | |
| #16 | Shaw UniversityPrivate | $30,121 | 12 | $32,500 | High | $17,479 | High |
| #17 | University Of Mount OlivePrivate | $29,685 | 8 | $27,209 | High | $15,000 | High |
| #18 | $26,353 | 24 | $22,500 | High | $14,301 | High | |
| #19 | Southern Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $25,785 | 13 | $26,000 | High | $16,072 | High |
| #20 | Brevard CollegePrivate | $21,894 | 13 | $25,000 | High | $29,908 | 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 →
