Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus

Ohio University-Chillicothe's Parks and Recreation program performs surprisingly well in first-year earnings, placing graduates at $36,850—well above the national median of $34,451 and matching the strongest earners in Ohio. That's a solid start for a field often associated with lower pay. Based on national patterns for similar bachelor's programs, graduates likely carry around $22,448 in debt, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61.

What's interesting here is the consistency across Ohio University's regional campuses—all report identical first-year earnings for this program, suggesting a shared curriculum and job placement network that's working effectively. The estimated debt figure is actually lower than Ohio's typical $26,000 for these programs, potentially reflecting the cost advantages of a regional campus. For a career path that often emphasizes work-life balance and community impact over high salaries, starting near $37,000 with moderate debt is reasonable.

The main caveat: these debt figures are estimates drawn from similar programs nationally, not confirmed outcomes from Chillicothe specifically. For parents, the practical question is whether your student values the lifestyle and mission-driven nature of recreation careers enough to accept modest earning potential. The numbers suggest this program won't create financial distress, but it won't fast-track wealth building either.