Parks & Recreation at University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
26
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,233/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (56% exposed)
Job Market Very Small (1,100 openings/yr)
ROI 12.9x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #25 of 59 Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $503K $501K $465K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.9x 12.9x 12.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.9x 5.9x 5.5x
Probability of Field Employment 42% 36% 26%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 26

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,912
Out-of-state: $85,088 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,436
-50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,000
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,941
31% growth from Year 1

About University of Northern Iowa

A 94% acceptance rate means University of Northern Iowa is accessible to most applicants, serving 7,599 students in Cedar Falls, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northern Iowa →

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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Northern Iowa

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Northern Iowa's Parks & Recreation program score?
This program scores 36/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →