Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at California State University-East Bay

Cal State East Bay's recreation program graduates earn $43,700 in their first year—substantially more than typical for this field. That puts them ahead of 95% of similar programs nationally and places this program among California's top three, trailing only Sacramento State. For comparison, the typical recreation graduate nationwide starts at just $34,450, while California's median sits at $33,920. This is a meaningful premium in a field often criticized for modest starting salaries.

The debt picture is reasonable at $20,306, translating to a 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable for most graduates. While that's slightly above California's typical debt for this program ($16,583), the higher earnings more than compensate. Graduates see steady progression too, reaching $47,830 by year four—a 10% increase that suggests stable career development in recreation management, park administration, or community programming roles.

The major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes can vary more than they would at a larger program. But the university's 97% admission rate and high percentage of Pell recipients (44%) suggest accessible entry into what appears to be a well-performing program. For students genuinely interested in parks and recreation careers, this program delivers unusually strong earnings for the field while keeping debt in check.