Best colleges for Parks in Illinois
Ranked by graduate earnings
Illinois State University, Western Illinois University and Aurora University award the most Parks degrees in Illinois: 61, 29 and 7 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 8 Illinois colleges offer Parks and award 110 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management program prepares students for careers in managing parks, recreational facilities, and leisure services. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about outdoor activities,…
Top 3 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,104 | 61 | 65% | — | $22,000 |
| 2 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,978 | 29 | 45% | — | $29,000 |
| 3 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,425 | 2 | 47% | — | $22,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Parks degrees in Illinois
Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois State University Normal Public | 61 | $39,104 |
| 2 | Western Illinois University Macomb Public | 29 | $28,978 |
| 3 | Aurora University Aurora Private not-for-profit | 7 | Not reported |
| 4 | University of St Francis Joliet Private not-for-profit | 5 | Not reported |
| 5 | Trinity Christian College Palos Heights Private not-for-profit | 4 | Not reported |
| 6 | Eastern Illinois University Charleston Public | 2 | $35,425 |
| 7 | Southeastern Illinois College Harrisburg Public | 1 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 1 Illinois colleges offering Parks
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago State University | Chicago | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Facilities Managers (SOC 11-3013).
Top skills
What Facilities Managers earn in Illinois
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Parks programs in Illinois.
Which Illinois colleges award the most Parks degrees?+
Illinois State University (61 graduates a year), Western Illinois University (29 graduates a year) and Aurora University (7 graduates a year) award the most Parks degrees in Illinois, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 8 Illinois colleges offer Parks.
Which Parks program in Illinois has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Illinois State University tops the list at $39,104. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Facilities Managers earn in Illinois?+
The average annual wage for Facilities Managers in Illinois is $113,070 (median $106,980), across about 9,180 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Parks program?+
The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management program prepares students for careers in managing parks, recreational facilities, and leisure services. This program is ideal for individuals passionate about outdoor activities,…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Facilities Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +3.8% growth with around 13,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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