Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The story here isn't the starting salary—it's where graduates go after that first year. UIUC's Parks and Recreation program launches students at $34,742, essentially matching the national median, but then something notable happens: earnings jump 56% to $54,075 by year four. That trajectory matters more than the modest entry point, especially when you consider that most graduates carry under $24,000 in debt, giving them breathing room while their careers accelerate.

Among Illinois's limited options for this major, UIUC ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings, and the comparison to Southern Illinois—which starts graduates at $32,357—suggests the Champaign campus provides stronger career momentum. The debt load sits comfortably below both state and national medians, and with a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates aren't underwater even in that lower-earning first year.

The real question is whether your child wants to work in recreation and parks management, because if they do, UIUC delivers a clear pathway with reasonable debt and strong mid-career prospects. The earnings pattern suggests graduates move into management roles or specialized positions as they gain experience—exactly what you'd want from a program at a well-regarded public university.