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Parks at Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,220/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (34% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (508,800 openings/yr)

ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 45 Parks programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Parks graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$520K	$518K	$483K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.7x	13.7x	12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.9x	6.9x	6.4x
Probability of Field Employment	42%	40%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	56	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,960

Out-of-state: $75,440 (6.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,436

-96% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,500

8.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$51,659

43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Minnesota State University-Mankato's Parks graduates start at $36,220/yr — above the $33,642 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 13.7x 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 — 34% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,500 debt-to-$36,220 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #6 out of 45 programs, Minnesota State University-Mankato's Parks program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $36,220 to $51,659 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Minnesota State University-Mankato

A 91% acceptance rate means Minnesota State University-Mankato is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 11,325 students in Mankato, MN.

See all programs and financial aid at Minnesota State University-Mankato →

Top Career Paths

Facilities managers $104,690/yr

General and operations managers $102,950/yr

Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling $77,180/yr

View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Parks at Other Schools

Other Majors at Minnesota State University-Mankato

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Minnesota State University-Mankato's Parks program score?

This program scores 56/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Parks graduates.

Why does Minnesota State University-Mankato rank so high for Parks?

The #6 ranking out of 45 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 →