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. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the early-career earnings of their parks recreation leisure studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose parks recreation leisure studies graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in parks recreation leisure studies, no school beat Brigham Young University Provo this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a private not-for-profit institution. Parks Recreation Leisure Studies graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of about $65,672 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #2 makes Metropolitan State College Of Denver one of the highest-paying schools for parks recreation leisure studies. Set in the city of Denver, Metropolitan State College Of Denver is a public institution. Early-career parks recreation leisure studies graduates from Metropolitan State College Of Denver make a median of around $52,362 per year.
University Of Utah produces some of the highest-paid graduates in parks recreation leisure studies, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Utah is a public school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Early-career parks recreation leisure studies graduates from University Of Utah make a median of around $50,353 per year.
A rank of #4 makes Southern Utah University one of the highest-paying schools for parks recreation leisure studies. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a public institution. Students who complete the parks recreation leisure studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $37,309.
Western State College Of Colorado came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying parks recreation leisure studies schools. Located in the town of Gunnison, Western State College Of Colorado is a public institution. Students who complete the parks recreation leisure studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $31,184.
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 · 5 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.