Leisure and Recreational Activities at Western Connecticut State University

Western Connecticut State's Leisure and Recreational Activities degree starts with a jarring first-year salary of just $23,229—placing it in the bottom 5% nationally for this program. The $26,000 in debt means graduates owe more than they'll earn in their first year out. However, there's an important counterpoint: earnings more than double to $46,689 by year four, suggesting many graduates may need time to transition into full-time roles or build professional credentials in recreation management.

The state context matters here. While this program ranks near the bottom nationally, it's actually at the 60th percentile among Connecticut's limited offerings in this field—though with only two schools tracked, that comparison has minimal value. The real question is whether the four-year earnings trajectory justifies the difficult early period, and for an anxious parent, that's a tough sell. Many recreation and leisure careers don't require bachelor's degrees, and starting at $23,000 with debt means your child will likely need financial support or a second job initially.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty to these figures, but even accounting for statistical noise, the pattern is clear: expect financial struggle in the early years with potential payoff later. If your child is passionate about recreation management and understands they're investing in a longer-term career path, this might work—but only with realistic planning for those lean first years.