by our College Data Analytics Team
[Parks Recreation Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. 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 3 schools on the early-career earnings of their parks recreation leisure studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send parks recreation leisure studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania the top school for parks recreation leisure studies graduate earnings in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a public institution. Students who complete the parks recreation leisure studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,562.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Lehman College one of the highest-paying schools for parks recreation leisure studies. Cuny Lehman College is a public school located in the city of Bronx. Parks Recreation Leisure Studies graduates of Cuny Lehman College earn a median of about $41,484 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science one of the highest-paying schools for parks recreation leisure studies. Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Paul Smiths. Students who complete the parks recreation leisure studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $27,543.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their parks recreation leisure studies graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 3 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.