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Most Popular Schools for Outdoor Education

2026 Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools

There are 55 colleges that offer a degree in Outdoor Education. Ranked by yearly graduations, here are the most popular below:

Finding the Best Outdoor Education School for You

Today’s Outdoor Education students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You can choose a traditional brick-and-mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school halfway across the country without even leaving your house.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. This report analyzed 55 schools in the United States to see which Outdoor Education programs were the most popular. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.

Check out the Outdoor Education programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in the United States.

#1

Prescott College

Prescott, AZ

The most popular school in the United States for Outdoor Education students is Prescott College. Prescott College is a private nonprofit school located in Prescott, AZ. This school awarded 37 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $31,678. Read More…

#2

Minnesota North College

Hibbing, MN

Minnesota North College comes in at #2 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Located in Hibbing, MN, this is a public institution. This school awarded 18 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $39,622. Read More…

#3

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, MI

Central Michigan University comes in at #3 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Located in Mount Pleasant, MI, this is a public institution. This school awarded 16 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $43,750. Read full report on Outdoor Education at Central Michigan University

#4

Vermont State University

Randolph, VT

Vermont State University comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Vermont State University is a public school located in Randolph, VT. During the most recent year for which we have data, 16 people earned their degree in Outdoor Education from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $41,804. Full Outdoor Education at Vermont State University Report

#5

Fort Lewis College

Durango, CO

Fort Lewis College comes in at #5 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Located in Durango, CO, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 15 people earned their degree in Outdoor Education from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $30,214. Full Outdoor Education at Fort Lewis College Report

#6

SUNY Adirondack

Queensbury, NY

SUNY Adirondack landed the #6 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. SUNY Adirondack is a public school located in Queensbury, NY. This school awarded 15 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $29,937. Full Outdoor Education at SUNY Adirondack Report

Southwestern Community College landed the #7 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. Located in Sylva, NC, this is a public institution. This school awarded 14 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $34,518. Full Outdoor Education at Southwestern Community College Report

#8

Warren Wilson College

Swannanoa, NC

Warren Wilson College comes in at #8 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Warren Wilson College is a private nonprofit school located in Swannanoa, NC. During the most recent year for which we have data, 14 people earned their degree in Outdoor Education from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $22,535. Read More…

Minnesota State University-Mankato landed the #9 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. Minnesota State University-Mankato is a public school located in Mankato, MN. This school awarded 13 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $49,152. Read More…

#10

Salisbury University

Salisbury, MD

Salisbury University comes in at #10 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Located in Salisbury, MD, this is a public institution. This school awarded 13 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $45,247. Read full report on Outdoor Education at Salisbury University

#11

Greenfield Community College

Greenfield, MA

Greenfield Community College comes in at #11 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Located in Greenfield, MA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 12 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,039. Read full report on Outdoor Education at Greenfield Community College

#12

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC

Western Carolina University landed the #12 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. Western Carolina University is a public school located in Cullowhee, NC. This school awarded 12 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,015. Full Outdoor Education at Western Carolina University Report

#13

Elon University

Elon, NC

Elon University comes in at #13 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Elon University is a private nonprofit school located in Elon, NC. This school awarded 11 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $45,880. Full Outdoor Education at Elon University Report

University of Alaska Anchorage landed the #14 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. Located in Anchorage, AK, this is a public institution. This school awarded 10 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $51,493. Read full report on Outdoor Education at University of Alaska Anchorage

#15

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR

John Brown University landed the #15 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. John Brown University is a private nonprofit school located in Siloam Springs, AR. This school awarded 9 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $41,767. Full Outdoor Education at John Brown University Report

#16

North Idaho College

Coeur d'Alene, ID

North Idaho College comes in at #16 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID, this is a public institution. This school awarded 9 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $37,864. Read full report on Outdoor Education at North Idaho College

#17

Gratz College

Melrose Park, PA

Gratz College landed the #17 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. Located in Melrose Park, PA, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 7 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,669. Full Outdoor Education at Gratz College Report

#18

Northland College

Ashland, WI

Northland College landed the #18 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. Located in Ashland, WI, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 7 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $29,498. Read full report on Outdoor Education at Northland College

#19

Plymouth State University

Plymouth, NH

Plymouth State University comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Plymouth State University is a public school located in Plymouth, NH. During the most recent year for which we have data, 7 people earned their degree in Outdoor Education from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,257. Read More…

#20

Brevard College

Brevard, NC

Brevard College landed the #20 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. Located in Brevard, NC, this is a private nonprofit institution. This school awarded 6 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $27,653. Read More…

#21

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University comes in at #21 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Liberty University is a private nonprofit school located in Lynchburg, VA. This school awarded 6 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $44,414. Read More…

Red Rocks Community College landed the #22 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. Located in Lakewood, CO, this is a public institution. This school awarded 6 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $47,651. Full Outdoor Education at Red Rocks Community College Report

Virginia Commonwealth University comes in at #23 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Located in Richmond, VA, this is a public institution. This school awarded 6 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $41,934. Read full report on Outdoor Education at Virginia Commonwealth University

#24

Montreat College

Montreat, NC

Montreat College landed the #24 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking. Montreat College is a private nonprofit school located in Montreat, NC. This school awarded 5 degrees in Outdoor Education in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $31,744. Read More…

#25

Sterling College

Craftsbury Common, VT

Sterling College comes in at #25 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Outdoor Education majors. Located in Craftsbury Common, VT, this is a private nonprofit institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 5 people earned their degree in Outdoor Education from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $25,883. Read full report on Outdoor Education at Sterling College

#26

Alaska Pacific University

Anchorage, AK
#27

College of Southern Idaho

Twin Falls, ID
#28

East Tennessee State University

Johnson City, TN
#29

Toccoa Falls College

Toccoa Falls, GA
#30

Young Harris College

Young Harris, GA
#31

Asbury University

Wilmore, KY
#34

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, AZ
#36

Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC
#38

New England College

Henniker, NH
#41

Rogue Community College

Grants Pass, OR
#43

Westminster University

Salt Lake City, UT
#44

Gordon College

Wenham, MA
#45

Hampshire College

Amherst, MA
#47

Murray State University

Murray, KY
#49

Pacific University

Forest Grove, OR
#50

Snow College

Ephraim, UT

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that also graduate students in this major every year.

Rank College Location
51 Temple University Philadelphia, PA
52 The University of Montana Missoula, MT
53 Unity Environmental University New Gloucester, ME
54 Western Wyoming Community College Rock Springs, WY
55 Winona State University Winona, MN

Outdoor Education by Region

View the Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools ranking for a specific region near you.

Region
New England
Middle Atlantic
Great Lakes
Plains States
Southeast
Southwest
Rocky Mountains
Far Western US

More Outdoor Education Rankings

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this Most Popular Outdoor Education Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.

Outdoor Education Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Outdoor Education 336
Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Physical Education 65,261
Recreation Administration 2,291
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 2,155
Other Parks & Recreation Studies 355

References

*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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