Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management at South Dakota State University

South Dakota State's Parks and Recreation program punches well above its weight nationally, with graduates earning $38,076 in their first year—about $5,000 more than the typical program of this type and placing them in the 94th percentile nationally. That's an impressive outcome for an open-admission institution, and earnings climb to $44,584 by year four, showing consistent career progression in a field that doesn't always reward early-career workers generously.

The debt load of $25,093 is precisely average for this field, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. Students can realistically pay this down within a few years if they're disciplined about it. Within South Dakota (where only two schools offer this program), the outcomes sit at the median, but that's hardly a knock—it means graduates achieve strong national performance while staying in-state.

The major caveat: this data comes from a small graduating class, so individual circumstances can swing these numbers significantly. Still, for students genuinely interested in parks and recreation management, this program appears to deliver stronger-than-typical preparation without burdening graduates with outsized debt. It's a solid choice if your child is passionate about outdoor recreation and community programming, not a fallback major.