Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

UNC Greensboro's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies graduates start at $31,561—landing right around the North Carolina median but trailing the national average by nearly $3,000. That's a meaningful gap in a field where starting salaries already hover in the low-$30k range. Within North Carolina, this program ranks middle-of-the-pack (40th percentile), falling behind East Carolina's stronger outcomes by over $3,000 annually. For a highly accessible program serving a significant population of Pell grant recipients, these earnings create a tight financial margin for new graduates.

The positive counterweight is manageable debt: at $26,000, graduates owe less than one year's starting salary and significantly less than the typical bachelor's degree holder nationally. The 0.82 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically dedicate a full year's salary to paying off loans—not ideal, but workable compared to many programs. The relatively low debt burden (18th percentile nationally) gives graduates breathing room that higher-earning programs with heavier debt loads sometimes don't provide.

For families considering this path, the calculation is straightforward: this is an affordable entry into recreation management, but not a financial accelerator. Students passionate about parks and recreation work will find a practical degree without crushing debt, though they should enter knowing that $31,000 won't stretch far in today's economy. Those treating this as a backup option or expecting robust earnings growth should look closely at career trajectories in this field before committing.