Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management at University of North Texas

UNT's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management graduates start at $36,857—beating 81% of similar programs nationwide and sitting comfortably above both the national median ($33,161) and Texas median ($34,738). More importantly, earnings climb to $45,134 by year four, a 23% jump that suggests genuine career progression rather than stagnation. At $26,000 in debt, graduates face a manageable 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they owe less than a year's salary from day one.

The program's position within Texas—60th percentile—is solid if unspectacular, placing it ahead of Texas State's nearby program but clearly not at the top of the state's offerings. Still, the combination of above-average starting earnings and strong growth trajectory matters more than state rankings for a field where networking and location flexibility often drive career success. The moderate sample size suggests enough graduates to validate the numbers without raising red flags.

For families concerned about ROI in recreation management, this represents a reasonable path forward. The debt load won't be crushing, and graduates who stick with the field see meaningful salary increases. It's not a program that will make anyone wealthy quickly, but the earnings trajectory and manageable debt make it viable for students genuinely committed to careers in parks and recreation management.