Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at CUNY Lehman College

First-year earnings of $41,484 put Lehman's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies graduates well ahead of what's typical for this field—a program that nationally produces a median starting salary of just $34,451. While the debt figure of $22,448 comes from national peer programs rather than Lehman's specific graduates, that estimated burden appears manageable at about half of first-year earnings, particularly given the school's strong track record in this major.

What makes this outcome especially noteworthy is the context: Lehman serves a predominantly working-class student body (61% Pell recipients) and produces recreation professionals earning more than comparable programs across New York State. This suggests the college has built strong connections with NYC's substantial parks and recreation sector—a significant advantage for a field where local employment networks and internship pipelines matter enormously. The estimated debt load, roughly in line with national norms for this credential, shouldn't overshadow the earnings advantage.

For families worried about ROI in a historically lower-paying field, Lehman appears to have cracked the code. The combination of estimated manageable debt and actual above-market earnings creates a clearer path to financial stability than you'll find at most recreation programs. Just understand that the debt figure is based on similar programs elsewhere—the actual burden for Lehman graduates could vary, though there's little reason to expect it would differ dramatically at a CUNY school with relatively modest costs.