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

Ohio University-Lancaster's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies program produces first-year earnings of $36,850—well above the national median for this field and matching the state's top performers. Peer programs across Ohio report identical earnings, suggesting this outcome reflects the broader Ohio market for recreation professionals rather than wide variation between schools. With estimated debt around $22,448 based on comparable national programs, graduates would face monthly loan payments of roughly $250 on a standard plan, consuming about 8% of gross monthly income—a manageable burden by most standards.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 sits comfortably below the critical 1.0 threshold where loan payments become difficult to sustain. Recreation and leisure professionals often find work with municipalities, park systems, and community organizations, where salaries may grow modestly but employment tends to be stable. The field itself pays less than many bachelor's-level careers, but Ohio's recreation sector appears to offer slightly better compensation than other states. One caution: the estimated debt figure comes from national data, not Lancaster Campus specifically, so actual borrowing patterns could differ.

For families confident in their child's commitment to recreation management, this program offers a clear path to employability with debt levels that won't derail other financial goals. The earnings advantage over the national median suggests Ohio's market rewards these graduates adequately, even if career growth potential remains limited compared to higher-paying fields.