Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science

Paul Smith's College graduates in this program earn $27,543 their first year out—about $7,000 below both the national and New York state median for recreation studies programs. Among the seven schools offering this program in New York, this places them in just the 25th percentile, while the state's top performer (CUNY Lehman) produces graduates earning over $40,000. The gap is substantial enough that students should carefully consider whether the Adirondack location offers sufficient career network advantages to offset lower starting salaries.

The debt picture is more reasonable at $23,250, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84—manageable but not comfortable at this income level. Monthly loan payments will consume a meaningful portion of take-home pay when you're earning under $28,000. The college's 91% admission rate and the fact that 37% of students receive Pell grants suggests an accessible institution serving middle- and working-class families, but those families need strong earning outcomes to justify borrowing.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, but the consistent pattern of below-median earnings deserves serious attention. If your child is passionate about outdoor recreation careers in the Adirondacks specifically, this program might make sense—but have frank conversations about post-graduation income realities and whether taking on debt for a sub-$30,000 starting salary aligns with your family's financial situation.