2027 Best Value Recreation Administration Schools in the Southeast 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for recreation administration students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Recreation Administration Schools in the Southeast 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
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value recreation administration schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $18,606 in student loans. Recreation Administration graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $41,046 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,606 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida Online earned it the #2 place for recreation administration. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,876, while out-of-state students pay about $16,579. Typical student debt for recreation administration graduates is $18,606. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from University Of Florida Online generally make around $41,046. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Florida International University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in recreation administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Recreation Administration graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $34,860 early in their careers. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Students looking for strong value in recreation administration will find it at Marshall University, which ranked #4. Marshall University is a large public school located in the city of Huntington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,162, compared with $20,342 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the recreation administration program here. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Marshall University generally make around $52,481. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marshall University admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Kentucky University earned it the #5 place for recreation administration. Western Kentucky University is a large public school located in the city of Bowling Green. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the recreation administration program here. Recreation Administration graduates of Western Kentucky University earn a median of $37,961 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Augusta Technical College earned the #6 position for value in recreation administration this year. Located in the city of Augusta, Augusta Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,282 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,492 for out-of-state students. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $11,400 in student loans. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Augusta Technical College generally make around $41,892. Set against $11,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Florida State University earned the #7 position for value in recreation administration this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete the recreation administration program here. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $51,884. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for recreation administration. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,772, compared with $28,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for recreation administration graduates is $22,213. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $35,318. Set against $22,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #9 spot for recreation administration value this year. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Students borrow a median of $25,616 to complete the recreation administration program here. Recreation Administration graduates of Eastern Kentucky University earn a median of $30,330 early in their careers. Set against $25,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of West Georgia came in at #10 for value in recreation administration this year. University Of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton. Students from in state pay about $6,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,800. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $31,492. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of West Georgia admits about 52% of applicants.
Arkansas Tech University earned the #11 position for value in recreation administration this year. Arkansas Tech University is a large public school located in the town of Russellville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,674, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Typical student debt for recreation administration graduates is $23,726. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $35,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Western Carolina University earned the #12 position for value in recreation administration this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Typical student debt for recreation administration graduates is $22,252. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $30,485. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Middle Tennessee State University came in at #13 for value in recreation administration this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,266 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $28,545 in student loans. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $30,350. That is a strong return on a $28,545 median debt. Middle Tennessee State University admits about 69% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #14 spot for recreation administration value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Recreation Administration graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $41,617 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Appalachian State University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value recreation administration schools. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,579 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,706 to complete the recreation administration program here. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $29,646. That is a strong return on a $19,706 median debt. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
West Virginia University placed #16 among the best values for recreation administration. West Virginia University is a very large public school located in the city of Morgantown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the recreation administration program here. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $51,750. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas came in at #17 for value in recreation administration this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, compared with $29,966 for out-of-state students. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $47,041. Set against $24,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
North Carolina Central University earned the #18 position for value in recreation administration this year. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the recreation administration program here. Recreation Administration graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $28,863 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina Central University admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earned the #19 position for value in recreation administration this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the recreation administration program here. Recreation Administration graduates of University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn a median of $31,873 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington admits about 64% of applicants.
Clemson University earned the #20 position for value in recreation administration this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Typical student debt for recreation administration graduates is $22,592. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $38,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Belmont Abbey College earned the #21 position for value in recreation administration this year. Located in the suburb of Belmont, Belmont Abbey College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,500. Students borrow a median of $27,140 to complete the recreation administration program here. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $40,322. That is a strong return on a $27,140 median debt. Belmont Abbey College admits about 75% of applicants.
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte landed the #22 spot for recreation administration value this year. Johnson And Wales University Charlotte is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $41,982. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the recreation administration program here. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $30,963. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value recreation administration schools. Located in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,056. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $16,625 in student loans. Recreation Administration graduates of Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn a median of $29,471 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,625 median debt. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale admits about 97% of applicants.
Narrow Recreation Administration Schools by State
More Recreation Administration Rankings
View All Recreation Administration Rankings >
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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
