Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at Oregon State University

Oregon State's recreation program lands squarely in the middle nationally but edges ahead of other Oregon schools—though with only three in-state programs and fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, these rankings matter less than the trajectory. The real story here is the 38% earnings jump from year one to year four, pushing graduates from $34,451 to nearly $48,000. That growth rate suggests graduates are finding their footing in a field where entry positions pay modestly but professional roles offer meaningful advancement.

The $22,500 debt load works out to about two-thirds of first-year earnings, which is manageable territory. By year four, that debt represents less than half of annual income—a comfortable position for most borrowers. However, the small sample size is important context: a few high or low earners can shift these medians significantly, so individual outcomes may vary more than usual.

For families weighing this investment, the central question is whether your student is committed to recreation management as a career path. The earnings growth shows there's room to build a solid middle-class income, but it requires sticking with the field long enough to move beyond entry-level positions. If they're passionate about parks, outdoor education, or community recreation, the numbers support the degree. If they're uncertain about the field, the modest starting salary makes this a risky exploration.