ROI Major

Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

NC · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 31.03

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management degree from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill earn a median salary of $56,877 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NC, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $58,156. The degree typically pays for itself in 10.6 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$45,751

Typical Career

$56,877

Top Performers

$83,557

Estimated break-even: 10.6 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$379

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,740. Most students can comfortably afford about a $379 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.5x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in North Carolina buys what costs $0.98 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services.

Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 21.3%
Health Care & Social Assistance 18.1%
Educational Services 15.8%

Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$58,156

Nominal: $56,877 in North Carolina (COL 97.8% of national avg) · 2.2% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

10.6 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $26,154 $37,592 $44,805
5 Years After Graduation $45,751 $56,877 $83,557
10 Years After Graduation $48,315 $59,848 $107,901

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $56,877 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NC, which has a cost-of-living index of 97.8% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $56,877 × (1.0 ÷ 0.9780) = $58,156 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill experience a steady earnings trajectory. One year post-graduation, median earnings are reported at $37,592, increasing to $56,877 five years later, and reaching $59,848 after ten years. The purchasing-power-adjusted salary for five years post-graduation stands at $58,156.44, indicating that while initial earnings may be modest, there is potential for significant growth over time, especially when considering the cost of living in North Carolina, which is slightly lower than the national average.

The top industries for graduates include Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (21.3%), Health Care & Social Assistance (18.1%), and Educational Services (15.8%). This diverse range of sectors suggests that graduates have various career pathways available to them. The estimated break-even point for pursuing a degree versus a high-school-only path is approximately 10.6 years, indicating a reasonable return on investment for those who complete their degree. Overall, while the financial benefits may take time to fully materialize, the potential for career advancement and industry diversity presents a favorable outlook for graduates.

Compare with Another School

See how the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management degree at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

Ready to apply?

Start your application for Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill.

Apply to University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Explore More

Other Degrees at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.