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2026 Highest Paid Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Grads in Missouri

[Parks Recreation Leisure Studies](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/parks-recreation-leisure-studies/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.

College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying parks recreation leisure studies schools.

What’s on this page:

• Highest Paid Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Grads in Missouri

2026 Highest Paid Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Grads in Missouri

Below are the schools whose parks recreation leisure studies graduates go on to earn the most.

Highest Paid Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Graduates

1

University Of Missouri Columbia
Columbia, MO

$55,583 Average Early-Career Salary

University Of Missouri Columbia earned the #1 spot for highest-paid parks recreation leisure studies graduates in Missouri. University Of Missouri Columbia is a public school located in the city of Columbia. Early-career parks recreation leisure studies graduates from University Of Missouri Columbia make a median of around $55,583 per year.

2

Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO

$42,389 Average Early-Career Salary

A rank of #2 makes Northwest Missouri State University one of the highest-paying schools for parks recreation leisure studies. Northwest Missouri State University is a public school located in the town of Maryville. Early-career parks recreation leisure studies graduates from Northwest Missouri State University make a median of around $42,389 per year.

3

Missouri State University Springfield
Springfield, MO

$46,262 Average Early-Career Salary

Students chasing top earnings in parks recreation leisure studies will find them at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a public institution. Early-career parks recreation leisure studies graduates from Missouri State University Springfield make a median of around $46,262 per year.

View All Parks Recreation Leisure Studies Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled 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.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Graduate earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard) field-of-study earnings.

More about our data sources and methodologies.