Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management at Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte

Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management program starts graduates at just under $31,000—below the national median but solidly middle-of-the-pack for North Carolina at the 60th percentile. What makes this program worth considering is the trajectory: earnings jump 40% to over $43,000 by year four, suggesting graduates are building real career momentum in Charlotte's growing hospitality and recreation sectors.

The $27,000 debt load sits slightly above both national and state medians, but it's still manageable at 0.87 times first-year earnings. That ratio improves quickly as earnings climb, and graduates appear to be moving into supervisory or specialized roles faster than peers at most competing NC programs. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates gives real confidence these patterns aren't flukes.

The tradeoff is clear: your child will start behind graduates from NC State (who earn $38,000 initially) but will likely close that gap within a few years. For families drawn to Johnson & Wales' career-focused approach and strong industry connections in hospitality management, the debt is reasonable and the earnings growth is encouraging. Just understand the first year or two will require careful budgeting.