2026 Best Outdoor Education Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Outdoor Education master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 55 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Minnesota State University Mankato tops our 2026 ranking of the best Outdoor Education master's degree schools in the United States. This public school is set in Mankato, MN. About 54% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Minnesota State University Mankato Outdoor Education students take on a median of $25,260 in debt. See the full Minnesota State University Mankato profile
Out of the 55 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Plymouth State University landed the #2 spot. Located in Plymouth, NH, Plymouth State University is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,626, with out-of-state students paying around $25,566. Students borrow a median of $26,972 to complete their Outdoor Education program here. Read the full report on Plymouth State University
The strong Outdoor Education programs at Winona State University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Read the full report on Winona State University
Out of the 55 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Red Rocks Community College landed the #4 spot. See the full Red Rocks Community College profile
You'll be in good company at Murray State University, which ranked #5 this year. Read more about Murray State University
Western Wyoming Community College placed #6 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Get the full Western Wyoming Community College report
Toccoa Falls College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Toccoa Falls College
Liberty University landed the #8 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Liberty University
Westminster College Utah landed the #9 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Westminster College Utah
East Tennessee State University placed #10 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Read more about East Tennessee State University
Snow College
Snow College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Snow College
Colorado Christian University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. See the full Colorado Christian University profile
Warren Wilson College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Warren Wilson College
Fort Lewis College landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. See the full Fort Lewis College profile
Suny College At Cortland did well this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about Suny College At Cortland
Sterling College Vermont ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Sterling College Vermont
Southwestern Community College Sylva came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Get the full Southwestern Community College Sylva report
Asbury University placed #18 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Read more about Asbury University
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. See the full Virginia Commonwealth University profile
Alaska Pacific University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Alaska Pacific University
Greenfield Community College did well this year, earning the #21 position. More on Greenfield Community College
Elon University
Elon University landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. More on Elon University
Adirondack Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read more about Adirondack Community College
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi placed #24 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Get the full Suny College Of Technology At Delhi report
Northern Arizona University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read more about Northern Arizona University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Outdoor Education Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Salisbury University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. More on Salisbury University
Northwest Nazarene University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Northwest Nazarene University report
The University Of Montana came in at #28 in this year's ranking. More on The University Of Montana
Lees Mcrae College landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Lees Mcrae College
Young Harris College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. More on Young Harris College
Gratz College
Gratz College placed #31 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Gratz College
John Brown University placed #32 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. More on John Brown University
University Of Alaska Anchorage placed #33 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Alaska Anchorage
College Of Southern Idaho landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Get the full College Of Southern Idaho report
North Idaho College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Get the full North Idaho College report
Northland College landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Northland College report
New England College landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on New England College
Temple University did well this year, earning the #38 position. See the full Temple University profile
Central Oregon Community College came in at #39 in this year's ranking. More on Central Oregon Community College
Prescott College
Prescott College placed #40 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. More on Prescott College
Montreat College
Montreat College came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Get the full Montreat College report
Unity College
Unity College placed #42 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. More on Unity College
Mt Hood Community College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. More on Mt Hood Community College
Brevard College
Brevard College did well this year, earning the #44 position. More on Brevard College
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Missouri State University Springfield
Vermont Technical College did well this year, earning the #46 position. More on Vermont Technical College
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College landed the #47 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Gordon College
Gordon College placed #48 among Outdoor Education schools in the United States. See the full Gordon College profile
Rogue Community College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Rogue Community College
Pacific University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Outdoor Education schools. Read more about Pacific University
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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Outdoor Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Outdoor Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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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