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2026 Best Value Outdoor Education Schools in North Carolina

[Outdoor Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/outdoor-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for outdoor education students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Outdoor Education Schools in North Carolina

2026 Best Value Outdoor Education Schools in North Carolina

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in outdoor education, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Outdoor Education Schools

1

Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC

$4,630 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,174 Avg Student Debt

$49,458 Median Earnings (10yr)

Western Carolina University tops our 2026 list of the best value outdoor education schools in North Carolina. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Outdoor Education graduates carry a median of $24,174 in student loans. Outdoor Education graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $44,926 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,174 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.

2

Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC

$41,500 In-State Tuition & Fees

$36,260 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Warren Wilson College earned it the #2 place for outdoor education. Located in the rural area of Swannanoa, Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,500. Median earnings reach $36,260 ten years out. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.

View All Outdoor Education Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.