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Parks at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,140/yr (-16% vs median)

AI Risk Moderate (34% exposed)

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

ROI 13.4x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #39 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	$492K	$492K	$462K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.4x	13.4x	12.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.6x	4.6x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	42%	40%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,768

Out-of-state: $107,084 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,860

-60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,883

9.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$44,094

57% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,140 place Central Washington University below the $33,642 national median for Parks — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 13.4x 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 $22,883 debt-to-$28,140 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #39 out of 45 programs, Central Washington University's financial outcomes for Parks trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $28,140 to $44,094 over five years (57% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Central Washington University

Central Washington University accepts 90% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington 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 Central Washington University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Central Washington University's Parks program score?

This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Parks. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Why are Parks earnings lower at Central Washington University?

Lower starting pay at Central Washington University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →