Recreation Administration programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 57 schools to find the best for recreation administration students.
The recreation administration program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Recreation Administration Schools rankings. For our Best Overall Recreation Administration School ranking, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Recreation Administration Rankings by Degree Level
We offer several rankings, including this Best Recreation Administration Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
No school ranked higher than University Of Florida this year for recreation administration. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. University Of Florida graduates 91% of students within six years. There were roughly 68 recreation administration students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the recreation administration program make about $41,046 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,606 to complete this degree.
See the full recreation administration program report for University Of Florida
North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in recreation administration, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. About 66 recreation administration degrees were awarded at North Carolina State University At Raleigh in the most recent year. Recreation Administration graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $41,617 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in recreation administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 108 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the recreation administration program make about $35,132 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,410 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best recreation administration schools. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Colorado State University Fort Collins graduates 66% of students within six years. Colorado State University Fort Collins awarded about 84 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the recreation administration program make about $33,161 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,628.
Read more about the recreation administration program at Colorado State University Fort Collins
University Of Arkansas is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in recreation administration, ranking #5. University Of Arkansas is a very large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arkansas awarded about 24 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their recreation administration degree from University Of Arkansas earn around $47,041 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arkansas graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from University Of Arkansas
Illinois State University earned the #6 position for recreation administration this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Normal. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Illinois State University awarded about 61 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $39,104. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
Get the full recreation administration details for Illinois State University
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus placed #7 among the best recreation administration schools. This large public university is located in the town of Durham. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus awarded about 80 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their recreation administration degree from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn around $38,201 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Towson University landed the #8 spot for recreation administration this year. Located in the city of Towson, Towson University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 15 recreation administration degrees were awarded at Towson University in the most recent year. Students who receive their recreation administration degree from Towson University earn around $50,370 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,241.
See the full recreation administration program report for Towson University
Clemson University landed the #9 spot for recreation administration this year. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. About 87% of students finish within six years. Clemson University awarded about 165 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $38,309. Typical student debt for the program is $22,592.
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University Of Florida Online earned the #10 position for recreation administration this year. University Of Florida Online is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 19 recreation administration degrees were awarded at University Of Florida Online in the most recent year. Students who receive their recreation administration degree from University Of Florida Online earn around $41,046 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,606.
Read more about the recreation administration program at University Of Florida Online
Michigan State University landed the #11 spot for recreation administration this year. This very large public university is located in the city of East Lansing. The six-year graduation rate is 81%. There were roughly 12 recreation administration students who graduated with this degree at Michigan State University in the most recent data year. Recreation Administration graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $35,343 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,939.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from Michigan State University
Green River Community College landed the #12 spot for recreation administration this year. This large public university is located in the city of Auburn. Green River Community College awarded about 13 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year.
Read more about the recreation administration program at Green River Community College
Florida International University came in at #13 for recreation administration this year. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Florida International University graduates 74% of students within six years. Florida International University awarded about 106 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Recreation Administration graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $34,860 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the recreation administration program at Florida International University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #14 for recreation administration this year. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates 71% of students within six years. About 32 recreation administration degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Wilmington in the most recent year. Students who receive their recreation administration degree from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington earn around $31,873 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,000.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
University Of North Texas ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best recreation administration schools. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Texas awarded about 44 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Recreation Administration graduates of University Of North Texas earn a median of $39,969 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Mississippi Main Campus placed #16 among the best recreation administration schools. This very large public university is located in the town of University. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. University Of Mississippi Main Campus awarded about 54 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Recreation Administration graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $35,318 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,213 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from University Of Mississippi Main Campus
Pennsylvania State University World Campus came in at #17 for recreation administration this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University World Campus awarded about 17 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University World Campus generally make around $35,132. Students borrow a median of $24,410 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #18 spot for recreation administration this year. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. About 20 recreation administration degrees were awarded at Santa Rosa Junior College in the most recent year. Students who receive their recreation administration degree from Santa Rosa Junior College earn around $80,047 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete this degree.
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University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #19 for recreation administration this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. About 27 recreation administration degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Graduates of the recreation administration program make about $34,490 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,005.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
Appalachian State University earned the #20 position for recreation administration this year. This very large public university is located in the town of Boone. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Appalachian State University awarded about 71 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Recreation Administration graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $29,646 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,706.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from Appalachian State University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University came in at #21 for recreation administration this year. Set in the town of Weatherford, Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 41% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southwestern Oklahoma State University awarded about 15 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Southwestern Oklahoma State University generally make around $38,506. Students borrow a median of $19,757 to complete this degree.
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Springfield College came in at #22 for recreation administration this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Springfield. Springfield College graduates 74% of students within six years. Springfield College awarded about 10 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Recreation Administration graduates of Springfield College earn a median of $49,880 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,151.
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University Of Maine earned the #23 position for recreation administration this year. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 recreation administration degrees were awarded at University Of Maine in the most recent year. Students who receive their recreation administration degree from University Of Maine earn around $47,975 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,984 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from University Of Maine
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #24 among the best recreation administration schools. This large public university is located in the city of Mankato. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. Minnesota State University Mankato awarded about 15 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $36,220. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from Minnesota State University Mankato
Southern Connecticut State University landed the #25 spot for recreation administration this year. Southern Connecticut State University is a large public school located in the city of New Haven. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. About 25 recreation administration degrees were awarded at Southern Connecticut State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $46,274. Southern Connecticut State University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the recreation administration program at Southern Connecticut State University
Rest of the Top 50 Recreation Administration Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong recreation administration education:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 57 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).
