Best colleges for Parks
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Parks by graduate earnings are Brigham Young University ($47,596), Arizona State University Campus Immersion ($43,149) and Northwest Missouri State University ($42,389), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Brigham Young University (Provo, UT): $47,596, 141 graduates a year
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion (Tempe, AZ): $43,149, 23 graduates a year
- Northwest Missouri State University (Maryville, MO): $42,389, 73 graduates a year
- California State University - Sacramento (Sacramento, CA): $40,338, 58 graduates a year
- California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (San Luis Obispo, CA): $39,157, 106 graduates a year
Compare 101 U.S. colleges offering Parks by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 34 states.
Parks programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,920 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 31.01 and the Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation (BLS SOC).
About Parks programs
The Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies program focuses on the study of parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology. It is designed for students interested in promoting healthy lifestyles and enhancing community well-being through outdoor and recreational activities. This program prepares graduates for various roles in the public and private sectors, emphasizing the importance of engaging with the outdoors.
Students in this program gain essential skills such as speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing. Coursework covers topics like anatomy, therapeutic recreation, and conditioning theory, equipping students with the knowledge needed to facilitate effective recreational and educational experiences.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,596 | 141 | 81% | $13,712 | $12,000 |
| 2 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,149 | 23 | 68% | — | $22,396 |
| 3 | Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,389 | 73 | 54% | — | $25,250 |
| 4 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,338 | 58 | 56% | — | $20,024 |
| 5 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,157 | 106 | 86% | — | $16,369 |
| 6 | University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,725 | 96 | 75% | — | $21,500 |
| 7 | University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,233 | 28 | 68% | — | $23,907 |
| 8 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,009 | 59 | 65% | — | $22,982 |
| 9 | Ohio University Athens, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,850 | 30 | 65% | — | — |
| 10 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,363 | 65 | 54% | — | $27,000 |
| 11 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,587 | 37 | 57% | — | $19,661 |
| 12 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,532 | 49 | 69% | — | $14,500 |
| 13 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, IN Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,429 | 117 | 80% | — | $19,750 |
| 14 | Winona State University Winona, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,062 | 21 | 57% | — | $21,148 |
| 15 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,742 | 148 | 85% | — | $23,447 |
| 16 | California State University - Chico Chico, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,920 | 29 | 63% | — | $18,179 |
| 17 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,692 | 25 | 76% | — | $14,999 |
| 18 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,709 | 30 | 64% | — | $26,000 |
| 19 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,697 | 22 | 57% | — | $14,061 |
| 20 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,672 | 52 | 61% | — | $21,500 |
| 21 | University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,567 | 96 | 71% | — | $23,310 |
| 22 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,561 | 34 | 56% | — | $26,000 |
| 23 | Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,303 | 29 | 55% | — | $21,500 |
| 24 | Georgia Southern University Statesboro, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $31,086 | 24 | 55% | — | $24,936 |
| 25 | Radford University Radford, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,145 | 23 | 49% | — | $26,000 |
Specializations within Parks
1 of the 1 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 31.01 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
Offered across 34 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 25-1193, Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers in parks and recreation management, therapeutic recreation, and fitness instruction. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.4% and approximately 1,100 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this area is $75,890, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Parks
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 31.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 31.01 (Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies) maps to 1 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupation, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 25-1193 | Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondaryprimary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Parks programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as anatomy, therapeutic recreation, and conditioning theory.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Parks program?+
The program focuses on parks, recreation, leisure, fitness, and kinesiology.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.4%.
What level of education is typically required?+
Most careers in this field require a doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Parks graduates earn?+
Parks graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $33,920, College Scorecard (2019); the Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary occupation pays about $86,620 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Parks?+
Parks maps to CIP 31.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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