Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at University of Iowa

The University of Iowa's Parks and Recreation program costs more than most comparable programs nationwide, yet fails to deliver a meaningful earnings advantage within Iowa itself. While graduates earn in the 76th percentile nationally—beating the $34,451 national median by a healthy margin—they rank only in the 40th percentile among Iowa programs, essentially matching the state median. You're paying flagship tuition for middle-of-the-pack in-state outcomes.

The debt picture compounds this concern. At $25,691, graduates carry slightly more debt than both state and national medians, though the 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable. The 30% earnings growth from $37,103 to $48,348 over four years shows steady career progression, which helps offset the initial debt burden. Still, with University of Northern Iowa graduates earning virtually the same amount ($37,233) likely at lower cost, the premium for Iowa's brand name is hard to justify on pure financial terms.

If your child is already committed to recreation management and specifically values what Iowa offers—perhaps its research opportunities or campus resources—this program won't sink them financially. But if they're choosing between Iowa schools based primarily on cost-to-outcome, they should seriously consider whether they're getting $25,691 worth of value over alternatives that deliver similar earnings with less debt.