Michigan·Management Occupations·SOC 11-9072

Best Entertainment programs in Michigan, ranked by enrollment

Plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and.

73 schools in Michigan run programs that feed this job, graduating 8,489 people a year. The job pays a median of $65,890 in Michigan across about 1,670 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledEvents ManagerGolf Course ManagerRecreation DirectorRecreation SuperintendentClub ManagerPark ManagerPool ManagerCamp Director
Graduates / yr
8,489
in Michigan
Median pay · Michigan
$65,890
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
1,670
people employed
Schools
73
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
45%
across those schools
Median net price
$20,357
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Michigan that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

6 programs in Michigan that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Michigan (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Michigan page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 52.0201In Michigan
6,235
73.4%
69$43,506$25,000
2
CIP 52.0101In Michigan
1,327
15.6%
25$44,700$24,000
3
CIP 31.0504In Michigan
766
9.0%
28$30,426$25,643
4
CIP 52.0901In Michigan
137
1.6%
8$34,218$23,364
5
CIP 31.0301In Michigan
20
0.2%
4$33,076$25,000
6
CIP 03.0207In Michigan
4
0.0%
1$37,946$24,125

Top 25 schools in Michigan

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 37 of the 73 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
1,537Business Administration and Management, General$93,67493%16%
2Wayne State University
Detroit, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
386Business Administration and Management, General58%81%
3Cleary University
Howell, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
385Business Administration and Management, General$50,57341%$20,87968%
4Davenport University
Grand Rapids, MI Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
383Business Administration and Management, General$51,38457%$22,12698%
5Northwood University
Midland, MI Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
383Business Administration and Management, General$51,94363%$24,98665%
6Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI Public · 5 feeder programs
356Business Administration and Management, General$71,25381%85%
7Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
234Business Administration and Management, General$53,60559%90%
8Macomb Community College
Warren, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
234Business/Commerce, General$37,53218%
9Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
223Business Administration and Management, General$48,53547%91%
10Henry Ford College
Dearborn, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
222Business Administration and Management, General$37,86017%
11Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
207Business Administration and Management, General$41,15233%
12Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
196Business/Commerce, General$45,28567%83%
13Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
195Business Administration and Management, General$62,35958%88%
14Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
190Business/Commerce, General21%
15Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI Public · 4 feeder programs
176Business Administration and Management, General$44,21446%80%
16Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI Public · 3 feeder programs
168Business Administration and Management, General$55,66058%85%
17Jackson College
Jackson, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
150Business Administration and Management, General$29,62416%
18Baker College
Owosso, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
135Business Administration and Management, General$55,37236%$15,49382%
19University of Michigan - Flint
Flint, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
120Business Administration and Management, General$50,52840%70%
20Siena Heights University
Adrian, MI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
119Business Administration and Management, General$46,50639%$17,01569%
21Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI Public · 5 feeder programs
115Business Administration and Management, General$38,84852%84%
22Hope College
Holland, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
112Business Administration and Management, General$45,59080%$21,74679%
23Walsh College
Troy, MI Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
108Business Administration and Management, General
24Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids, MI Public · 2 feeder programs
105Business/Commerce, General21%
25University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
95Business Administration and Management, General$37,97267%$16,10975%

All 73 schools in Michigan

Every school in Michigan with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Michigan that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
University of Michigan - Ann ArborAnn ArborPublic1,5372
Wayne State UniversityDetroitPublic3862
Cleary UniversityHowellPrivate not-for-profit3851
Davenport UniversityGrand RapidsPrivate not-for-profit3833
Northwood UniversityMidlandPrivate not-for-profit3834
Michigan State UniversityEast LansingPublic3565
Central Michigan UniversityMount PleasantPublic2343
Macomb Community CollegeWarrenPublic2343
Ferris State UniversityBig RapidsPublic2232
Henry Ford CollegeDearbornPublic2223
Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn ArborPublic2072
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendalePublic1962
Oakland UniversityRochester HillsPublic1952
Oakland Community CollegeAuburn HillsPublic1902
Eastern Michigan UniversityYpsilantiPublic1764

What entertainment and recreation managers earn in Michigan

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Michigan
$65,890
Mean annual
$74,450
Jobs in state
1,670
What the range looks like
10th pct$40,970Median$65,89090th pct$111,480
Versus the national median
-17.1%

U.S. median $79,520. Michigan pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
1.56×

Concentrated here: Michigan employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in Michigan

Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
$74,030median
550 jobs
Ann Arbor, MI
$68,220median
90 jobs
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI
$70,420median
50 jobs
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI
$65,980median
220 jobs
Lansing-East Lansing, MI
$64,840median
90 jobs
Traverse City, MI
$67,830median
70 jobs
Flint, MI
$64,120median
40 jobs
Niles, MI
$64,670median
40 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+7.7%
Faster than average
Openings per year
5,500
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
3,300
43,200 → 46,500
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Entertainment and Recreation Managers page.

How to become a Entertainment

Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience needed
Less than 5 years

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Top skills

Active ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingWritingMonitoring

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Michigan

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 9 majors mapped to Entertainment and Recreation Managers9 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 03.0207Environmental/Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism
  • 31.0301Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, General
  • 31.0302Golf Course Operation and Grounds Management
  • 31.0399Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, Other
  • 31.0504Sport and Fitness Administration/Management
  • 52.0101Business/Commerce, General
  • 52.0201Business Administration and Management, General
  • 52.0901Hospitality Administration/Management, General
  • 52.0906Resort Management

Common questions

Answers for people weighing entertainment and recreation managers programs in Michigan.

What degree do you need to become an Entertainment?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Business Administration and Management, General, which awarded 6,235 degrees in Michigan in 2024-25, 73.4% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming an Entertainment?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 6 programs to this occupation. The largest are Business Administration, Business/Commerce, Sports, Hospitality Administration/Management, plus 2 more. Together they graduate about 8,489 people a year in Michigan.

How much do entertainment and recreation managers earn in Michigan?+

The median is $65,890 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 17.1% below the U.S. median of $79,520. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for entertainment and recreation managers growing?+

BLS projects a +7.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 5,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Michigan?+

73 institutions in Michigan reported graduates from at least one of the 6 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do entertainment and recreation managers work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Events Manager, Golf Course Manager, Recreation Director, Recreation Superintendent among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 11-9072.

Entertainment and Recreation Managers in other statesCaliforniaTexasArizonaFloridaNew YorkIndianaNorth CarolinaVirginia

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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