Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management at North Carolina Central University

With earnings barely breaking $30,000 four years out and $31,000 in debt, this program ranks in the bottom 5% of Parks and Recreation programs nationally—though it sits near the middle of North Carolina's offerings. That state context matters: NC Central's graduates earn just $250 less than the state median for this field, but carry $8,400 more debt than typical NC grads. The real standouts in the state are NC State Raleigh (earning 25% more) and UNC Wilmington, suggesting that stronger programs exist at comparable in-state tuition rates.

The concerning piece is the trajectory. Earnings grow only $1,600 over four years—essentially a cost-of-living adjustment rather than real career progression. At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.07, your child would owe more than they'll make in their first year. For comparison, NC State Raleigh graduates in this same field earn $38,000 with similar debt loads, creating a dramatically different financial picture.

If your child is committed to parks and recreation management and wants an HBCU experience, understand they'll likely need family financial support or additional work during the early career years to manage that debt load. The 57% Pell grant rate suggests many students here are already stretching financially. Unless there are compelling non-financial reasons to choose NC Central, the stronger-performing NC State or UNC Wilmington programs offer better returns in this field.