2026 Best Value Outdoor Education Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Outdoor Education master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 55 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Outdoor Education Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Minnesota State University Mankato tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Outdoor Education master's degree schools in the United States. This public school is set in Mankato, MN. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Students borrow a median of $25,260 to complete their Outdoor Education program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,922. Set against $25,260 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%. See the full Minnesota State University Mankato profile
Plymouth State University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Outdoor Education ranking in the United States. Based in Plymouth, NH, Plymouth State University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,626, compared with $25,566 for out-of-state students. Plymouth State University Outdoor Education students take on a median of $26,972 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $57,304. That is a strong return on a $26,972 median debt. Plymouth State University has an acceptance rate of 88%. Get the full Plymouth State University report
Out of the 55 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Greenfield Community College landed the #3 spot. Read more about Greenfield Community College
You'll get strong value at Black Hills State University, which ranked #4 this year. See the full Black Hills State University profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Adirondack Community College earned it the #5 place in the United States. Get the full Adirondack Community College report
Suny College At Cortland landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Suny College At Cortland
Warren Wilson College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Warren Wilson College
North Idaho College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Get the full North Idaho College report
Winona State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Outdoor Education schools. See the full Winona State University profile
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Virginia Commonwealth University
Alaska Pacific University landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Alaska Pacific University
Vermont Technical College placed #12 among the best-value Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Vermont Technical College
Central Oregon Community College came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. See the full Central Oregon Community College profile
Southwestern Community College Sylva landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Southwestern Community College Sylva report
Young Harris College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. See the full Young Harris College profile
Asbury University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. See the full Asbury University profile
Red Rocks Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Red Rocks Community College
Salisbury University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Salisbury University
Brevard College
Brevard College landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Brevard College profile
Western Wyoming Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Western Wyoming Community College
Elon University
Elon University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Elon University report
Hampshire College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Hampshire College report
Murray State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Outdoor Education schools. Read more about Murray State University
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Missouri State University Springfield
New England College placed #25 among the best-value Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Get the full New England College report
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Outdoor Education Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Snow College
Snow College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. More on Snow College
Westminster College Utah placed #27 among the best-value Outdoor Education schools in the United States. See the full Westminster College Utah profile
Sterling College Vermont landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Sterling College Vermont
Montreat College
Montreat College came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. See the full Montreat College profile
Mt Hood Community College came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Mt Hood Community College report
Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. More on Pacific University
Gordon College
Gordon College offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about Gordon College
East Tennessee State University offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. More on East Tennessee State University
John Brown University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on John Brown University
Unity College
Unity College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Unity College report
Temple University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Temple University
Liberty University placed #37 among the best-value Outdoor Education schools in the United States. See the full Liberty University profile
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. More on Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College
Toccoa Falls College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Outdoor Education schools. Read more about Toccoa Falls College
University Of Alaska Anchorage landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Alaska Anchorage report
Northwest Nazarene University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Outdoor Education schools. Read the full report on Northwest Nazarene University
Prescott College
Prescott College offered strong value this year, earning the #42 position. See the full Prescott College profile
Weber State University placed #43 among the best-value Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Get the full Weber State University report
Lees Mcrae College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Outdoor Education schools. See the full Lees Mcrae College profile
Northern Arizona University offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. More on Northern Arizona University
Central Michigan University offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. Get the full Central Michigan University report
Fort Lewis College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Fort Lewis College
Western Carolina University placed #48 among the best-value Outdoor Education schools in the United States. Read more about Western Carolina University
Rogue Community College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Outdoor Education schools. Read more about Rogue Community College
Gratz College
Gratz College landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Gratz College
Related Outdoor Education Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Outdoor Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Outdoor Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Outdoor Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Outdoor Education Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Outdoor Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Outdoor Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Outdoor Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 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 · 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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