2026 Best Recreation Administration Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Recreation Administration doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 171 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, 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 Recreation Administration Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
No school ranked higher than Clemson University this year in the United States. Set in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Clemson University Recreation Administration students take on a median of $22,592 in debt. Read the full report on Clemson University
The strong Recreation Administration programs at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #2 place in the United States. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #3 on this year's Recreation Administration ranking in the United States. Set in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,628 to complete their Recreation Administration program here. Get the full Colorado State University Fort Collins report
The strong Recreation Administration programs at Cheyney University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #4 place in the United States. See the full Cheyney University Of Pennsylvania profile
A rank of #5 makes Kansas State University one of the top choices in the United States. Read more about Kansas State University
University Of Maine At Presque Isle placed #6 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Maine At Presque Isle
North Carolina Central University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. More on North Carolina Central University
Stephen F Austin State University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Stephen F Austin State University
University Of Idaho came in at #9 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Idaho profile
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #10 position. Read more about Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Trinity Christian College landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. More on Trinity Christian College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. More on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny
Mohawk Valley Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Get the full Mohawk Valley Community College report
Trine University
Trine University placed #14 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Trine University
Oklahoma Baptist University placed #15 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Oklahoma Baptist University report
Southwest Virginia Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. More on Southwest Virginia Community College
Central Wyoming College landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Central Wyoming College
Iowa Central Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Read more about Iowa Central Community College
Dixie State College Of Utah landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. See the full Dixie State College Of Utah profile
University Of St Francis ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Get the full University Of St Francis report
West Virginia University placed #21 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on West Virginia University
Cumberland University landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. See the full Cumberland University profile
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington profile
Montgomery College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. More on Montgomery College
South Dakota State University placed #25 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on South Dakota State University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Recreation Administration Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Saint Cloud State University did well this year, earning the #26 position. More on Saint Cloud State University
Wayland Baptist University landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Wayland Baptist University
Marshall University landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Marshall University report
Bellevue College
Bellevue College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Get the full Bellevue College report
Spokane Community College placed #30 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Spokane Community College
Onondaga Community College did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Onondaga Community College
Anoka Technical College placed #32 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Anoka Technical College
University Of Northern Colorado did well this year, earning the #33 position. See the full University Of Northern Colorado profile
Tidewater Community College came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Tidewater Community College
University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Nevada Las Vegas
Wingate University did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read more about Wingate University
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania placed #37 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. See the full Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania profile
Frostburg State University landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Frostburg State University
Chicago State University came in at #39 in this year's ranking. Get the full Chicago State University report
John Brown University did well this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full John Brown University report
Lakeland Community College placed #41 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Lakeland Community College
Butte College
Butte College landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Butte College report
Southwestern Oklahoma State University did well this year, earning the #43 position. Read the full report on Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Suny College At Cortland came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Suny College At Cortland
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. See the full Suny College Of Technology At Delhi profile
Pennsylvania State University World Campus placed #46 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Pennsylvania State University World Campus
Truckee Meadows Community College placed #47 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Truckee Meadows Community College report
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. See the full Johnson And Wales University Charlotte profile
Western Kentucky University ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Read the full report on Western Kentucky University
Saint Josephs College New York placed #50 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Saint Josephs College New York report
Related Recreation Administration Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Recreation Administration Schools (All Levels)
- Best Recreation Administration Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Recreation Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Recreation Administration Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Recreation Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Recreation Administration Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Recreation Administration Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 171 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).