Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management at SUNY Brockport

SUNY Brockport's recreation management program starts graduates at just over $30,000—well below both the national and state medians for this field—but delivers something more important: strong earnings growth. Within four years, median pay jumps 43% to reach $43,370, vaulting graduates past both benchmarks and positioning this as a middle-of-the-pack option among New York programs by year four. The modest $25,000 debt load (average for this major) means graduates face a manageable 0.82 debt-to-earnings ratio even in that challenging first year.

The key question is whether your child can handle the financial reality of those early years. Recreation management careers often start with seasonal or part-time work before advancing into full-time facility management or program director roles, which explains both the low starting salary and the steady climb afterward. This program's trajectory suggests it successfully prepares students for that advancement, even if the initial numbers look rough compared to peers at schools like St. Joseph's.

For families comfortable with a few lean years after graduation in exchange for solid mid-career prospects, this represents reasonable value—particularly at SUNY pricing. The debt is containable, and by year four graduates are earning more than typical program completers elsewhere. Just ensure your child understands they're signing up for a gradual build rather than immediate financial independence.