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Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at California State University-Sacramento

Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,338/yr (20% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)

Job Market Very Small (1,100 openings/yr)

ROI 18.2x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #2 of 59 Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$562K	$553K	$502K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	18.5x	18.2x	16.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.2x	7.1x	6.4x
Probability of Field Employment	42%	36%	26%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	48	37

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$30,408

Out-of-state: $77,928 (7.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$42,048

-38% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,181

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$60,227

49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

California State University-Sacramento's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies graduates start at $40,338/yr — above the $33,731 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 18.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 56% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,181 in median debt clears quickly against $40,338 in annual earnings.

Ranked #2 out of 59 programs, California State University-Sacramento's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,338 to $60,227 shows 49% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California State University-Sacramento

A 94% acceptance rate means California State University-Sacramento is accessible to most applicants, serving a student body of 27,867 in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Sacramento →

Top Career Paths

Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary $75,890/yr

View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Sacramento

Frequently Asked Questions

How does California State University-Sacramento's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies program score?

This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 56% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does California State University-Sacramento rank so high for Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies?

The #2 ranking out of 59 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →