2027 Best Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools in North Carolina
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools.
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Best Schools for Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy education in North Carolina.
Top Schools in Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Wilmington the best school in the country for a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 29 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $39,366 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
East Carolina University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, ranking #2. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $56,764 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at East Carolina University
Students looking for a strong therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program will find one at Western Carolina University, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the town of Cullowhee. Western Carolina University graduates 60% of students within six years. There were roughly 18 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at Western Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program make about $54,814 in their early career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans.
Read more about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Western Carolina University
Winston Salem State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools. Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Winston-Salem. About 47% of students finish within six years. About 21 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees were awarded at Winston Salem State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree from Winston Salem State University earn around $58,227 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,000.
Read more about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Winston Salem State University
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 4 schools evaluated.
- 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.
