Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 67 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$198,573 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
55.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−82%Modeled 10-year ROI
$49,369Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$49,369Median reported earnings · year 4
$51,397Average reported earnings · year 5
$22,500Median federal debt
20thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
67Reporting programs
63With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $33,834
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,369
- Federal debt
- $22,500
- Reporting programs
- 67
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $58,002
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $54,041
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$45,159National median$49,36975th percentile$54,563
63 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$75,1812California State University, East Bay$68,2273University of South Dakota$64,1044Brigham Young University$63,0805University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$61,3136University of Utah$59,8557California State University, Chico$59,7658California State University, Sacramento$59,0419Metropolitan State University of Denver$57,81010Indiana University-Bloomington$57,334Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1193 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $75,181 | $16,369 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | California State University, East BayBachelor's Degree | Hayward, CA | $68,227 | $20,306 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of South DakotaBachelor's Degree | Vermillion, SD | $64,104 | Not available | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $63,080 | $12,000 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $61,313 | $23,447 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $59,855 | $22,982 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | California State University, ChicoBachelor's Degree | Chico, CA | $59,765 | $18,179 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | California State University, SacramentoBachelor's Degree | Sacramento, CA | $59,041 | $20,024 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $57,810 | Not available | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $57,334 | $19,750 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of IowaBachelor's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $57,098 | $25,691 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $57,093 | $14,999 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Kutztown, PA | $56,525 | $27,000 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | California State University, FresnoBachelor's Degree | Fresno, CA | $56,336 | $14,061 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of Missouri-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, MO | $55,280 | $21,500 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $55,212 | $16,797 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | University of Nebraska at KearneyBachelor's Degree | Kearney, NE | $54,563 | $23,500 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Winona State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winona, MN | $54,381 | $21,148 | -62% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $53,933 | $14,500 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $53,854 | $25,369 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $53,809 | $26,000 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $53,374 | Not available | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, AR | $52,701 | $23,310 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $52,355 | $22,396 | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $52,355 | $22,396 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 26 | Midwestern State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wichita Falls, TX | $51,917 | Not available | -69% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Shepherd UniversityBachelor's Degree | Shepherdstown, WV | $51,789 | $24,950 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Gordon CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wenham, MA | $51,479 | Not available | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Western Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bellingham, WA | $50,832 | $17,897 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $50,501 | $21,500 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $49,468 | $21,313 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Ohio University-Eastern CampusBachelor's Degree | Saint Clairsville, OH | $49,369 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusBachelor's Degree | Chillicothe, OH | $49,369 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Ohio University-Southern CampusBachelor's Degree | Ironton, OH | $49,369 | Not available | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Ohio University-Lancaster CampusBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, OH | $49,369 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Ohio University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Athens, OH | $49,369 | Not available | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Ohio University-Zanesville CampusBachelor's Degree | Zanesville, OH | $49,369 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Radford UniversityBachelor's Degree | Radford, VA | $48,743 | $26,000 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of Northern IowaBachelor's Degree | Cedar Falls, IA | $48,506 | $23,907 | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | Western Colorado UniversityBachelor's Degree | Gunnison, CO | $48,109 | $19,507 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | East Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greenville, NC | $47,336 | $19,587 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | CUNY Lehman CollegeBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $47,163 | Not available | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | University of South AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Mobile, AL | $46,912 | $26,750 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Emporia State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Emporia, KS | $46,887 | Not available | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Oregon State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Corvallis, OR | $46,044 | $22,500 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Oregon State University-Cascades CampusBachelor's Degree | Bend, OR | $46,044 | $22,500 | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $45,623 | $20,525 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Grambling State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Grambling, LA | $45,159 | $41,750 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Southern MississippiBachelor's Degree | Hattiesburg, MS | $45,056 | $29,460 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $42,838 | $26,000 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Georgia Southern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Statesboro, GA | $42,573 | $24,936 | -110% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Paul Smiths College of Arts and ScienceBachelor's Degree | Paul Smiths, NY | $41,797 | $23,250 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $41,550 | $27,457 | -114% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Benedict CollegeBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $41,372 | $40,000 | -114% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Northern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Marquette, MI | $40,825 | $23,855 | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | York College of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | York, PA | $40,692 | Not available | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | California State Polytechnic University-HumboldtBachelor's Degree | Arcata, CA | $40,566 | Not available | -119% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | University of Minnesota-DuluthBachelor's Degree | Duluth, MN | $40,452 | Not available | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cape Girardeau, MO | $40,266 | Not available | -119% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $39,947 | Not available | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Utah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Logan, UT | $39,091 | Not available | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | University of Mount OliveBachelor's Degree | Mount Olive, NC | $38,052 | Not available | -127% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Southern Oregon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ashland, OR | $36,135 | Not available | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Jacksonville State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, AL | Not available | $21,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,279 |
| 65 | Pittsburg State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburg, KS | Not available | $19,661 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,784 |
| 66 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Maryville, MO | Not available | $25,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,244 |
| 67 | Shaw UniversityBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | Not available | $39,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,512 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.