# Western Colorado University: Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies (bachelor's)

Gunnison, CO. IPEDS 128391, CIP 31.01. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-colorado-university/majors/parks-recreation-and-leisure-studies

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $25,903
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $48,109 (U.S. median for this major: $49,369 across 63 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $19,507 (U.S. median $22,500)
- Rank in CO: 2 of 2 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the U.S. median: -$1,260

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.46 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $48,109 minus $40,610 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in CO (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | $11,490 | $51,245 | 6.8 years |
| 30-48k | $10,868 | $48,471 | 6.5 years |
| 48-75k | $13,908 | $62,030 | 8.3 years |
| 75-110k | $16,928 | $75,499 | 10.1 years |
| 110k+ | $21,396 | $95,426 | 12.7 years |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies at CO colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | $57,810 | not reported | $15,327 | 32% |
| Western Colorado University | $48,109 | $19,507 | $16,425 | 51% |

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).