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Parks, Recreation & Leisure · Parks & Recreation Rank #2 of 59

Parks & Recreationat California State University-Sacramento

Graduates earn $40,338/yr in their first year — about 20.0% above the national Parks & Recreation average. Base-case 10-year earnings $553K; scenarios range from $502K to $562K depending on AI disruption.

Sacramento, CA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
48 AVERAGE
48
Optimistic
37
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,338
1-year post-graduation
ROI
18.8x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$553K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at CSU Sacramento

Your strong outcomes from Sac State's Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies program reflect both the robust California labor market and Sacramento's unique position. As the state capital with vast surrounding natural areas, there's a consistent demand for skilled professionals across state park systems, local government recreation departments, and private outdoor adventure companies. This program’s reputation and location likely provide excellent pipelines into these diverse roles, contributing to your earning potential.

While the data shows a high AI risk, this primarily pertains to administrative or scheduling tasks. Your true value lies in the human element: designing compelling experiences, leading groups, and adapting to real-time situations in the field. Focus on developing your interpersonal, leadership, and program management skills, as these are increasingly vital and far less susceptible to automation in this dynamic sector.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$502K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple16.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$553K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple18.2x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$562K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple18.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to CSU Sacramento's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Parks & Recreation graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Recreation and fitness studies teachers, postsecondary
+2.4% 10-yr growth · 1,100 openings/yr
$75,890/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Parks & Recreation

How CSU Sacramento stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Brigham Young University
UT · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$48K
1-yr earn
24.3x
ROI
Same state (CA)
California State University-East Bay
CA · Public
42
DW Score
$44K
1-yr earn
14.5x
ROI
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
AZ · Public
42
DW Score
$43K
1-yr earn
10.8x
ROI
Ohio University-Eastern Campus
OH · Public
46
DW Score
$37K
1-yr earn
23.2x
ROI
Ohio University-Chillicothe Campus
OH · Public
46
DW Score
$37K
1-yr earn
23.2x
ROI
Also at CSU Sacramento

Other top programs at CSU Sacramento

Other highest-scoring programs offered at CSU Sacramento, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Parks & Recreation at CSU Sacramento

How does California State University-Sacramento's Parks & Recreation program score?

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

How vulnerable is Parks & Recreation to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Parks & Recreation 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?

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.