Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management at Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University's Parks and Recreation program ranks dead last among the six Illinois schools offering this degree, with first-year earnings of $29,000 falling more than $6,000 below the state median. While the program shows solid 33% earnings growth over four years, graduates start significantly behind peers statewide—Illinois State University graduates earn $10,000 more right out of the gate. The $29,000 debt load, nearly $7,000 above Illinois' typical debt for this major, makes the financial picture even tougher in those crucial early years.

The concerning piece here is that this program underperforms on both metrics that matter most: it carries more debt and produces lower earnings than the typical Illinois recreation management program. At 1:1, the debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face a full year's salary in loans while earning roughly $29,000—a tight squeeze even before considering living costs. The earnings eventually reach $38,000 by year four, which is respectable growth, but that still trails what graduates from Eastern Illinois or Illinois State earn from day one.

For families focused on return on investment, this program presents a challenging case. Unless your student has compelling non-financial reasons to choose WIU—location, campus culture, specific faculty—the numbers suggest looking at Illinois State or Eastern Illinois, where graduates start their careers with less debt and higher earning potential from the start.