2027 Best Value Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/therapeutic-recreation-recreational-therapy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools
Indiana State University tops our 2027 list of the best value therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Typical student debt for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates is $25,582. Early-career therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates make about $73,947. That is a strong return on a $25,582 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chicago State University earned it the #2 place for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Chicago State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $12,754 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates carry a median of $43,322 in student loans. Early-career therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates make about $47,477. That is a strong return on a $43,322 median debt. Chicago State University admits about 43% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee one of the best values for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $10,398 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program here. Early-career therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates make about $55,121. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy will find it at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse, which ranked #4. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Typical student debt for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates is $21,374. Early-career therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates make about $61,039. Set against $21,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,990. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates carry a median of $27,425 in student loans. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $43,271. Set against $27,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Grand Valley State University came in at #6 for value in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,894 for out-of-state students. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates make about $65,197. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
University Of Toledo landed the #7 spot for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy value this year. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program here. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $55,685 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Central Michigan University landed the #8 spot for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy value this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $57,073 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Aurora University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Typical student debt for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates is $23,750. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $41,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
