Parks at Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,620/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (34% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (508,800 openings/yr)
ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #29 of 45 Parks programs

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 $497K $497K $465K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.8x 10.8x 10.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.4x 5.3x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 42% 40% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$45,800
Out-of-state: $92,840 (5.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,752
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,540
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $32,620/yr, roughly in line with the $33,642 national median for Parks. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 10.8x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,500 debt-to-$32,620 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #29 out of 45 programs, Texas State University's financial outcomes for Parks trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $32,620 to $46,540 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Texas State University

Texas State University accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 34,547 in San Marcos, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Texas State University →

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 Texas State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Texas State University's Parks program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Parks. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →