Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown's recreation program graduates earn above the national median from day one, landing in the 70th percentile among similar programs nationwide. Starting at $36,363 and climbing to $45,351 by year four, graduates see healthy 25% earnings growth that suggests real career progression in parks and recreation management. The $27,000 debt load translates to a 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio—manageable territory where your monthly payments shouldn't overwhelm entry-level paychecks.

What's particularly striking is how well Kutztown manages costs compared to peers. While earnings match the Pennsylvania median for this field, the program ranks in just the 7th percentile for debt nationally, meaning 93% of similar programs saddle graduates with more loans. This combination of competitive earnings and relatively controlled debt makes for a cleaner financial picture than you'll find at most recreation programs.

The context matters here: this isn't a lucrative field overall, but for students genuinely committed to careers in recreation management or outdoor education, Kutztown delivers solid preparation without the debt burden that plagues many recreation graduates elsewhere. If your child is determined to work in this sector, the controlled costs and steady earnings trajectory make this a reasonable path forward.