2026 Best Outdoor Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Outdoor Education bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 55 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Outdoor Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Our analysis found Weber State University to be the best Outdoor Education school in the United States. Based in Ogden, UT, Weber State University is a public institution. Weber State University graduates 47% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. The median Outdoor Education program debt is $19,176. Get the full Weber State University report
You'll be in good company at Central Michigan University, which ranked #3 this year. This public school is set in Mount Pleasant, MI. Central Michigan University posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Central Michigan University Outdoor Education students take on a median of $27,857 in debt. Read more about Central Michigan University
Suny College At Cortland came in at #4 on this year's Outdoor Education ranking in the United States. Based in Cortland, NY, Suny College At Cortland is a public institution. Suny College At Cortland graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,874, with out-of-state students paying around $18,784. The median Outdoor Education program debt is $25,369. Get the full Suny College At Cortland report
You'll be in good company at Brevard College, which ranked #5 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Brevard, NC. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,280. The median Outdoor Education program debt is $26,667. See the full Brevard College profile
Murray State University placed #6 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Murray State University is a public school based in Murray, KY. Murray State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, while out-of-state students pay about $19,836. Graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. Get the full Murray State University report
Liberty University landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Based in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Liberty University Outdoor Education students take on a median of $27,414 in debt. Read more about Liberty University
Black Hills State University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Spearfish, SD, Black Hills State University is a public institution. About 43% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,916, with out-of-state students paying around $12,018. Typical Outdoor Education student debt is $26,820. Get the full Black Hills State University report
Fort Lewis College placed #9 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Fort Lewis College is a public school based in Durango, CO. Roughly 36% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,958, while out-of-state students pay about $21,526. The median Outdoor Education program debt is $18,888. More on Fort Lewis College
Hampshire College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Get the full Hampshire College report
Adirondack Community College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. More on Adirondack Community College
Alaska Pacific University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. See the full Alaska Pacific University profile
Mt Hood Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read more about Mt Hood Community College
Montreat College
Montreat College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Montreat College
Pacific University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Pacific University
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #15 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Get the full Minnesota State University Mankato report
Missouri State University Springfield did well this year, earning the #16 position. More on Missouri State University Springfield
Salisbury University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Salisbury University
North Idaho College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Get the full North Idaho College report
Western Carolina University landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Western Carolina University report
Central Oregon Community College did well this year, earning the #20 position. See the full Central Oregon Community College profile
East Tennessee State University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Read more about East Tennessee State University
Southwestern Community College Sylva came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Southwestern Community College Sylva
Asbury University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. See the full Asbury University profile
Colorado Christian University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. More on Colorado Christian University
Temple University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. See the full Temple University profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Outdoor Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Greenfield Community College placed #26 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. See the full Greenfield Community College profile
Plymouth State University did well this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Plymouth State University profile
Warren Wilson College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on Warren Wilson College
John Brown University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Get the full John Brown University report
Vermont Technical College did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full Vermont Technical College report
Northland College did well this year, earning the #31 position. See the full Northland College profile
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Suny College Of Technology At Delhi
Elon University
Elon University did well this year, earning the #33 position. See the full Elon University profile
Northern Arizona University landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Northern Arizona University
Red Rocks Community College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. See the full Red Rocks Community College profile
College Of Southern Idaho placed #36 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. See the full College Of Southern Idaho profile
Toccoa Falls College ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Get the full Toccoa Falls College report
Unity College
Unity College placed #38 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Get the full Unity College report
Prescott College
Prescott College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. More on Prescott College
Snow College
Snow College came in at #40 in this year's ranking. See the full Snow College profile
The University Of Montana ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read more about The University Of Montana
Winona State University did well this year, earning the #42 position. See the full Winona State University profile
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College did well this year, earning the #43 position. Get the full Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College report
Rogue Community College landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. See the full Rogue Community College profile
New England College did well this year, earning the #45 position. More on New England College
Gratz College
Gratz College placed #46 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. See the full Gratz College profile
Sterling College Vermont landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Sterling College Vermont
Northwest Nazarene University landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. More on Northwest Nazarene University
Westminster College Utah came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Get the full Westminster College Utah report
Gordon College
Gordon College placed #50 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. More on Gordon College
Related Outdoor Education Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Outdoor Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Outdoor Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Outdoor Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Outdoor Education Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Outdoor Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Outdoor Education Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Outdoor Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 55 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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