Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management program performs slightly above both state and national medians—ranking in the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania programs and 56th nationally—though with only a handful of graduates, these numbers deserve extra scrutiny. Starting earnings of $33,955 climb to $38,831 by year four, showing steady progression in a field where many graduates work in municipal recreation departments, outdoor education centers, or resort management. The debt load of $26,000 matches both state and national medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.8.

The real question is career trajectory beyond these early years. Recreation management careers can branch in different directions—some graduates move into higher-paying corporate wellness or resort management roles, while others find meaningful work in community recreation that may never reach high salaries. The earnings growth here is encouraging but modest, suggesting graduates find stable employment without dramatic income jumps.

For families comfortable with a $38,000 salary range and a child passionate about outdoor recreation or community programming, this program offers a practical entry point with reasonable debt. Just recognize you're looking at limited data points, and the field itself tends toward service-oriented work rather than high earnings. If your student is career-focused on parks and recreation specifically, this delivers what the field typically offers.