by our College Data Analytics Team
[Recreation Administration](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/recreation-administration/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The schools below stand out for the salaries their recreation administration graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find where recreation administration graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose recreation administration graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in recreation administration, no school beat Saint Cloud State University this year. Saint Cloud State University is a public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Students who complete the recreation administration program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,020.
South Dakota State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in recreation administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. Recreation Administration graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of about $49,651 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Minnesota State University Mankato one of the highest-paying schools for recreation administration. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Recreation Administration graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of about $51,659 a year early in their careers.
Missouri Western State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying recreation administration schools. Located in the city of Saint Joseph, Missouri Western State University is a public institution. Recreation Administration graduates of Missouri Western State University earn a median of about $41,623 a year early in their careers.
Kansas State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in recreation administration, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a public institution. Early-career recreation administration graduates from Kansas State University make a median of around $37,083 per year.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries recreation administration graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.