Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at Indiana University-Bloomington

Indiana University-Bloomington's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies program lands squarely in the middle of what you'll find nationally—earning the 60th percentile among similar programs—but that middle ground comes with notable financial constraints. Graduates start at $35,429, just barely above the national median, and carry $19,750 in debt that puts them in the 75th percentile for borrowing. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 means students owe more than half their first year's salary, which will require careful budgeting in those early years.

The encouraging news is the 23% earnings growth by year four, reaching $43,499, which suggests the field offers advancement opportunities once you're established. Among Indiana's limited options for this major (just four schools statewide), IU matches the state median exactly for both earnings and debt—no premium for the flagship university name, but no penalty either.

For a family considering this program, the reality check matters: your graduate will likely start in the mid-$30,000s with nearly $20,000 to repay. If your child is genuinely passionate about parks and recreation management and willing to live modestly for a few years, IU provides a stable path into the field. But if they're uncertain about the career or hoping for quick financial independence after graduation, that debt load relative to starting salary deserves serious conversation before committing.