WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's+22% vs national median1,042 grads tracked

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Ranked 1st of 50 bachelor's programs in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$37,484
middle 50%: $27,555 – $49,308
Median · 5 years out
$61,159
middle 50%: $45,814 – $81,387
Median · 10 years out
$81,907
middle 50%: $59,364 – $117,511

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's bachelor's program in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies earn a median $37,484 one year after graduating, rising to $81,907 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 22% above the national median of $50,060 for this field, ranking 1st of 50 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
7.1 yrs
≈ $8,425 total interest

Same major at other universities

CUNY Lehman College
$60,793 · 5 yrs out
Midwestern State University
$58,363 · 5 yrs out
Texas A&M University
$58,131 · 5 yrs out
Olivet Nazarene University
$56,312 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$54,840 · 5 yrs out
Arizona State University
$54,679 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$226,077 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$206,093 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$177,207 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$176,681 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$173,815 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$164,239 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$159,201 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$152,834 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$151,479 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Doctorate)
$126,011 · 5 yrs out
Legal Professions and Studies (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out
Law (Doctorate)
$125,106 · 5 yrs out

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