Compare 60 Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $48,344. Top programs: $75,181+.
The highest-earning Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $52K earnings gap across 60 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. The spread between the top program and the field average alone exceeds $26,000—a gap that no amount of name recognition can close.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo leads the rankings, with Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies graduates earning $75,181—well above the $48,344 field average. Close behind, San Jose State University delivers $73,198 in median earnings despite an 85% acceptance rate, proving that accessible admissions and strong outcomes aren't mutually exclusive. These are regional public universities, not household-name institutions.
Brigham Young University makes the strongest case on debt burden: graduates carry just $11,069 in student loans and face a 3.7% payment burden—firmly 'Excellent' by GPS standards. When parent loans enter the picture, BYU still leads with a 7.5% family burden, also rated 'Excellent.' At $63,080 in median earnings, loan payments clear quickly regardless of who borrowed.
Highest program earnings: $75,181
Strong outcomes ($73,198) with 85% acceptance rate
3.7% payment burden | Excellent
7.5% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $75,181 | 95 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $73,198 | 28 | — | — | — | — | |
| #3 | $68,227 | 41 | $16,544 | Excellent | $15,738 | Good | |
| #4 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $63,080 | 105 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Excellent |
| #5 | $61,313 | 91 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #6 | University Of UtahPublic | $59,855 | 33 | $19,000 | Excellent | $18,886 | Manageable |
| #7 | $59,765 | 101 | $16,552 | Excellent | $17,585 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $59,041 | 74 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $57,810 | 11 | $21,500 | Good | $13,743 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $57,334 | 124 | $19,509 | Excellent | $32,850 | Challenging | |
| #11 | University Of IowaPublic | $57,098 | 55 | $22,500 | Good | $27,975 | Challenging |
| #12 | $57,093 | 19 | $15,000 | Excellent | $25,565 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $56,525 | 60 | $26,000 | Good | $26,389 | Challenging | |
| #14 | $56,336 | 44 | $14,505 | Excellent | $12,050 | Good | |
| #15 | $55,280 | 83 | $20,500 | Good | $32,529 | Challenging | |
| #16 | $55,212 | 28 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $54,563 | 53 | $19,500 | Good | $14,457 | Manageable | |
| #18 | Winona State UniversityPublic | $54,381 | 35 | $21,500 | Good | $19,316 | Challenging |
| #19 | $53,933 | 79 | $14,289 | Excellent | $15,177 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $53,809 | 59 | $25,000 | Good | $25,947 | Challenging | |
| #21 | University Of ArkansasPublic | $52,701 | 79 | $21,500 | Good | $28,086 | Challenging |
| #22 | $52,355 | 8 | $19,500 | Good | $23,519 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $51,917 | 13 | $21,030 | Good | $19,367 | Challenging | |
| #24 | Shepherd UniversityPublic | $51,789 | 36 | $21,600 | Good | $21,546 | Challenging |
| #25 | Gordon CollegePrivate | $51,479 | 9 | $26,250 | Manageable | $43,838 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
