2027 Best Value Recreation Administration Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Recreation Administration](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/recreation-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value recreation administration schools.
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2027 Best Value Recreation Administration Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the recreation administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Recreation Administration Schools
Leading the list is Brigham Young University Idaho, our #1 best value for recreation administration in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Typical student debt for recreation administration graduates is $12,567. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $27,961. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Idaho is a great value for students pursuing a degree in recreation administration, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Idaho is a large public school located in the town of Moscow. Students from in state pay about $9,084 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $23,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from University Of Idaho generally make around $43,246. That is a strong return on a $23,844 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Mesa State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in recreation administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Mesa State College is a large public school located in the city of Grand Junction. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,927, compared with $25,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,310 to complete the recreation administration program here. Recreation Administration graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $43,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,310 median debt. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dixie State College Of Utah earned it the #4 place for recreation administration. Set in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $18,246. Typical student debt for recreation administration graduates is $18,666. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $42,266. That is a strong return on a $18,666 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in recreation administration will find it at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Typical student debt for recreation administration graduates is $19,628. Recreation Administration graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $33,161 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,628 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.