Parks at Kean University

Union, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Parks, Recreation and Leisure Facilities Management
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,884/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (34% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (508,800 openings/yr)
ROI 10.5x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 45 Parks programs Top 25%

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 $566K $562K $518K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 10.5x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.7x 6.7x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 42% 40% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$53,704
Out-of-state: $84,304 (6.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$48,672
9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
8.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,761
58% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Kean University's Parks graduates start at $37,884/yr — above the $33,642 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Parks programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Parks's typical career paths, with 34% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 9 months of the $37,884 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #5 of 45 nationally, this is a top-5% Parks program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $59,761 show a 58% jump from the $37,884 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Kean University

A 77% acceptance rate means Kean University is accessible to most applicants, serving 10,842 students in Union, NJ. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Kean 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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Parks at Kean University?
A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Parks field.
What makes Kean University's Parks program stand out?
Ranked #5 of 45 programs nationally, Kean University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →