2026 Best Recreation Administration Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Recreation Administration graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 171 institutions 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.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed 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 Recreation Administration Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is North Carolina State University At Raleigh, our #1 Recreation Administration school in the United States. Set in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their Recreation Administration program here. See the full North Carolina State University At Raleigh profile
You'll be in good company at Clemson University, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. More on Clemson University
The strong Recreation Administration programs at Colorado State University Fort Collins earned it the #3 place in the United States. Based in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,373, while out-of-state students pay about $35,061. Colorado State University Fort Collins Recreation Administration students take on a median of $19,628 in debt. Read more about Colorado State University Fort Collins
You'll be in good company at Western Kentucky University, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,652, with out-of-state students paying around $27,000. Western Kentucky University Recreation Administration students take on a median of $26,000 in debt. Read more about Western Kentucky University
The strong Recreation Administration programs at Central Michigan University earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in Mount Pleasant, MI, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. The median Recreation Administration program debt is $27,857. Get the full Central Michigan University report
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in Stillwater, OK, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete their Recreation Administration program here. Read more about Oklahoma State University Main Campus
Anoka Technical College did well this year, earning the #7 position. More on Anoka Technical College
Western Carolina University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Get the full Western Carolina University report
Sierra College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Get the full Sierra College report
Saint Josephs College Of Maine did well this year, earning the #10 position. See the full Saint Josephs College Of Maine profile
Suny College At Cortland placed #11 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Suny College At Cortland
Saint Cloud State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Get the full Saint Cloud State University report
Arkansas Tech University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Arkansas Tech University
Florida State University placed #14 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Florida State University
Moraine Valley Community College placed #15 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. See the full Moraine Valley Community College profile
Northwest Missouri State University placed #16 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. See the full Northwest Missouri State University profile
Lake Superior State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Read more about Lake Superior State University
Northcentral Technical College landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Northcentral Technical College
Indian River State College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full Indian River State College report
Lees Mcrae College landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. More on Lees Mcrae College
University Of Idaho landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Idaho report
Suny College At Brockport placed #22 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Suny College At Brockport report
Onondaga Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. More on Onondaga Community College
College Of The Ozarks placed #24 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on College Of The Ozarks
Everglades University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on Everglades University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Recreation Administration Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
Reedley College
Reedley College placed #26 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Reedley College
George Mason University did well this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full George Mason University report
Spokane Community College landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Spokane Community College
Central Washington University ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. More on Central Washington University
Dakota College At Bottineau did well this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Dakota College At Bottineau profile
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny
Hannibal Lagrange College did well this year, earning the #32 position. Get the full Hannibal Lagrange College report
Belmont Abbey College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Belmont Abbey College
West Valley College did well this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full West Valley College report
Henderson State University placed #35 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Henderson State University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #36 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Missouri Western State University landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. See the full Missouri Western State University profile
Southeastern Illinois College placed #38 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Southeastern Illinois College report
University Of Maine came in at #39 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Maine profile
Herkimer County Community College placed #40 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Herkimer County Community College
Iowa Central Community College placed #41 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Iowa Central Community College
Eastern Kentucky University placed #42 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. See the full Eastern Kentucky University profile
Professional Golfers Career College landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. See the full Professional Golfers Career College profile
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi did well this year, earning the #44 position. More on Suny College Of Technology At Delhi
Universidad Metropolitana ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Read more about Universidad Metropolitana
Indiana State University came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Get the full Indiana State University report
Pennsylvania Western University placed #47 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. See the full Pennsylvania Western University profile
Lord Fairfax Community College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Read the full report on Lord Fairfax Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Southwest Virginia Community College
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
Related Recreation Administration Rankings
Explore 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 Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Recreation Administration Doctoral 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).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.