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Parks & Recreation

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Parks & Recreation

Parks & Recreation graduates earn $50,983 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,138 and $67,192. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

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About Parks & Recreation

This page covers Parks & Recreation as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Recreation & Fitness and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Parks & Recreation is a focused area of study within Recreation & Fitness. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $50,983 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 152 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 2,361 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.

Median Earnings · 1yr: $34,451
Median Earnings · 4yr: $50,983
Colleges Offering: 152
Graduates / Year: 2,361
Avg Net Price / yr: $15,960

How Much Do Parks & Recreation Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Parks & Recreation, a typical graduate earns $50,983, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $37,138 and $67,192, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $34,451 at one year out to $50,983 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$34,451

1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$50,983

4-Year National Median

Below average for bachelor's degree holders.

$49,369

4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.

Earnings Range

Not every Parks & Recreation graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Specialization and credential level drive most of the gap. Advanced practice roles (nurse practitioners, CRNAs, physician assistants) anchor the top; entry-level clinical and support roles sit at the bottom.

$37,138 25th pct.

$50,983 Median

$67,192 75th pct.

A Solid Financial Return

Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $50,983 and an estimated $63,840 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.0 years.

Based on outcomes from 127 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 2,361 students who complete Parks & Recreation programs each year, the majority (83%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

83%

Bachelor's 83%

Associate's 8%

Master's 8%

What Can You Do With a Parks & Recreation Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Parks & Recreation graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers pay the most at $77,270/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers earn and how fast those roles are growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +2.2% Zone 5: Extensive preparation

Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers

$77,270

$60K $101K 25th–75th pct.

Doctoral or professional degree 1,000 openings/yr 13K employed nationally

Speaking Instructing Reading Comprehension Active Listening Writing

Day-to-day responsibilities

Teach courses pertaining to recreation, leisure, and fitness studies, including exercise physiology and facilities management. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.

Top Colleges for Parks & Recreation

Not sure where to study Parks & Recreation? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Brigham Young University, and the rest follow the same measures.

#	College	Graduates	Acceptance	Net Price/yr	Earnings 10yr
1	Brigham Young University Provo, UT · Nonprofit	123	67.8%	$15,564	$75,790
2	University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL · Public	122	42.4%	$14,355	$81,054
3	Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN · Public	109	78.2%	$16,264	$63,742
4	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA · Public	102	31.3%	$16,665	$90,768
5	University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO · Public	89	78.5%	$20,268	$63,403
6	Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA · Public	70	90.8%	$21,331	$53,775
7	Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO · Public	64	86.1%	$16,244	$47,885
8	Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ · Public	62	89.6%	$14,158	$54,384
9	Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkinston, MS · Public	60	Open	$6,962	$33,017
10	California State University-Sacramento Sacramento, CA · Public	59	94%	$9,338	$64,876
11	University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR · Public	58	74.3%	$18,209	$58,191
12	California State University-Long Beach Long Beach, CA · Public	54	46.3%	$10,440	$64,403
13	California State University-Chico Chico, CA · Public	49	92.7%	$14,480	$64,172
14	University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC · Public	46	88.5%	$10,965	$48,160
15	University of Nebraska at Kearney Kearney, NE · Public	45	89.5%	$16,242	$50,105
16	University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT · Public	43	86%	$16,200	$67,170
17	University of Iowa Iowa City, IA · Public	43	83.6%	$22,531	$64,762
18	Western Washington University Bellingham, WA · Public	43	93.3%	$21,193	$62,569
19	San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public	42	84.6%	$13,760	$78,988
20	Bowling Green State University-Main Campus Bowling Green, OH · Public	37	81%	$24,022	$47,896

View all colleges

Ranked by Parks & Recreation graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Parks & Recreation program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

College ROI Calculator

See if a Parks & Recreation degree pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings its graduates actually see.

College Cost Calculator

Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.

Compare Colleges

Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.

College Match Quiz

Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.

Parks & Recreation Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Parks & Recreation shows 1 measurable strengths and 4 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS

Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $34,451 at graduation to $50,983 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.

CONS

Modest median earnings Four-year median of $50,983 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Licensure often required Most roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.
Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Slow job growth Top related careers project less than 3% growth over the next decade; limited expansion means more competition for new openings.

Parks & Recreation Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Parks & Recreation graduates earn?

$50,983 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $37,138 and $67,192, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the starting salary for a Parks & Recreation degree?

$34,451 in the first year out. That grows to $50,983 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.

What jobs can you get with a Parks & Recreation degree?

Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $77,270 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.

How long does a Parks & Recreation program take?

Four years of full-time study for a Parks & Recreation bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.

How many colleges offer Parks & Recreation?

152 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.

Is a Parks & Recreation degree worth it?

$50,983 median earnings four years out against $15,960 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.

What is the difference between Parks & Recreation and Recreation & Fitness?

Parks & Recreation is the narrower of the two: Recreation & Fitness covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Parks & Recreation-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.

What skills do employers look for in Parks & Recreation graduates?

Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Parks & Recreation graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.

Is graduate school worth it for Parks & Recreation graduates?

Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.