Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies graduates from Shepherd University earn $51,789 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $22,625.
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies at Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies at Shepherd University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Shepherd University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 36 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Shepherd University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $51,789 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $47,110 across all institutions offering Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Shepherd University, the mean median-earnings figure is $50,206, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies graduates at Shepherd University is $22,625, which translates to roughly $189 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $75,181 | $15,400 |
| California State University-East Bay | $68,227 | — |
| University of South Dakota | $64,104 | — |
| Brigham Young University | $63,080 | $12,250 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $61,313 | $22,564 |
| University of Utah | $59,855 | $19,125 |
| California State University-Chico | $59,765 | $17,886 |
| California State University-Sacramento | $59,041 | $19,181 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | $57,810 | — |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | $57,334 | $19,261 |
Other Programs at Shepherd University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $83,114 | $27,490 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $78,764 | $24,875 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $74,218 | $21,500 |
| Sociology | $63,412 | $18,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $62,588 | $17,677 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $56,953 | $25,000 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | $53,606 | — |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies (current) | $51,789 | $22,625 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,353 | $19,225 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $50,124 | $21,500 |
Other Schools with Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.