Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management at St. Joseph's University-New York

St. Joseph's University-New York graduates in this field earn above the national median for parks and recreation management—$36,847 in the first year versus $33,161 nationally—though the limited sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly year to year. More importantly, earnings climb 27% by year four to $46,620, suggesting this program opens doors to supervisory or specialized positions that many entry-level recreation jobs don't provide. The $26,000 debt load sits near the national norm and translates to a manageable 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio.

What's curious here is the state context: this program ranks in the 60th percentile among New York's six parks and recreation programs despite the state's median earnings ($33,618) being similar to the national figure. That middle-of-the-pack state ranking likely reflects New York City's higher cost of living rather than program weakness—your graduate earning $36,847 in Brooklyn faces different financial realities than someone making $30,000 in upstate New York. The debt burden is reasonable enough that geography shouldn't derail career viability.

For families comfortable with the small sample caveat, this represents a workable pathway into recreation management with relatively low debt and room for income growth. Just recognize that first-year earnings won't stretch far in an expensive metro area, even if they look solid on paper.