by our College Data Analytics Team
[Parks Recreation Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a parks recreation leisure studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the early-career earnings of their parks recreation leisure studies graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send parks recreation leisure studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Western Michigan University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying parks recreation leisure studies schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a public institution. After graduating, parks recreation leisure studies degree recipients from Western Michigan University typically earn about $47,227 annually.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the highest-paying schools for parks recreation leisure studies. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Parks Recreation Leisure Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $63,748 a year early in their careers.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying parks recreation leisure studies schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Athens. Parks Recreation Leisure Studies graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of about $59,913 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Indiana University Bloomington earned it the #4 place for parks recreation leisure studies. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a public institution. Early-career parks recreation leisure studies graduates from Indiana University Bloomington make a median of around $50,444 per year.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus produces some of the highest-paid graduates in parks recreation leisure studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Bowling Green. Early-career parks recreation leisure studies graduates from Bowling Green State University Main Campus make a median of around $46,968 per year.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #6 spot for parks recreation leisure studies salaries this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public institution. Early-career parks recreation leisure studies graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale make a median of around $46,108 per year.
Northern Michigan University came in at #7 for parks recreation leisure studies graduate earnings this year. Northern Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Marquette. Parks Recreation Leisure Studies graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of about $28,890 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries parks recreation leisure studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 7 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.