2026 Best Recreation Administration Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Recreation Administration master’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 171 institutions 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.
To arm you with the information you need, 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a public school based in Slippery Rock, PA. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,568, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Read more about Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania
South Dakota State University came in at #2 on this year's Recreation Administration ranking in the United States. Set in Brookings, SD, South Dakota State University is a public institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical Recreation Administration student debt is $25,093. Read the full report on South Dakota State University
You'll be in good company at University Of Arkansas, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Fayetteville, AR, University Of Arkansas is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Typical Recreation Administration student debt is $24,019. Read the full report on University Of Arkansas
Out of the 171 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #4 spot. Based in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates 85% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
University Of Florida came in at #5 on this year's Recreation Administration ranking in the United States. Based in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. The median Recreation Administration program debt is $18,606. See the full University Of Florida profile
Clemson University landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Located in Clemson, SC, Clemson University is a public institution. About 87% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,554, while out-of-state students pay about $40,866. Clemson University Recreation Administration students take on a median of $22,592 in debt. Read the full report on Clemson University
Florida International University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Located in Miami, FL, Florida International University is a public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Florida International University Recreation Administration students take on a median of $19,000 in debt. Get the full Florida International University report
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in La Crosse, WI, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $10,070 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,517 for out-of-state students. The median Recreation Administration program debt is $22,005. Read more about University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Located in Durham, NH, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $19,202 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,852. Typical Recreation Administration student debt is $27,000. More on University Of New Hampshire Main Campus
Old Dominion University did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Recreation Administration program here. Read more about Old Dominion University
Western Kentucky University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Set in Bowling Green, KY, Western Kentucky University is a public institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Typical Recreation Administration student debt is $26,000. Read more about Western Kentucky University
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #13 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Located in Fort Collins, CO, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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
University Of Idaho placed #14 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Based in Moscow, ID, University Of Idaho is a public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, while out-of-state students pay about $28,320. Typical Recreation Administration student debt is $23,844. Get the full University Of Idaho report
University Of North Texas placed #15 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Set in Denton, TX, University Of North Texas is a public institution. University Of North Texas posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. University Of North Texas Recreation Administration students take on a median of $26,000 in debt. Read more about University Of North Texas
Texas State University San Marcos did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in San Marcos, TX, Texas State University San Marcos is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. The median Recreation Administration program debt is $23,000. More on Texas State University San Marcos
Southern Connecticut State University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Southern Connecticut State University is a public school based in New Haven, CT. About 50% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,442, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Recreation Administration program here. Get the full Southern Connecticut State University report
Central Michigan University landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Mount Pleasant, MI. Central Michigan University graduates 59% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. The median Recreation Administration program debt is $27,857. Read more about Central Michigan University
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Greensboro, NC, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, with out-of-state students paying around $24,012. Graduates carry a median of $24,977 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Frostburg State University landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Frostburg State University is a public school based in Frostburg, MD. Frostburg State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,220, compared with $25,814 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Recreation Administration program here. More on Frostburg State University
Western Illinois University landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Macomb, IL. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Western Illinois University Recreation Administration students take on a median of $29,000 in debt. More on Western Illinois University
Stephen F Austin State University placed #22 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Set in Nacogdoches, TX, Stephen F Austin State University is a public institution. Stephen F Austin State University graduates 53% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,128, with out-of-state students paying around $20,968. Graduates carry a median of $24,759 in student loans. Get the full Stephen F Austin State University report
Eastern Kentucky University landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Eastern Kentucky University is a public school based in Richmond, KY. Eastern Kentucky University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,230. Students borrow a median of $25,616 to complete their Recreation Administration program here. See the full Eastern Kentucky University profile
West Virginia University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Morgantown, WV, West Virginia University is a public institution. West Virginia University posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. The median Recreation Administration program debt is $23,772. See the full West Virginia University profile
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #24 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. See the full Minnesota State University Mankato profile
Springfield College School Of Professional And Continuing Studies came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Springfield College School Of Professional And Continuing Studies
Rest of the Top 50 Best Recreation Administration Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Florida State University placed #26 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. See the full Florida State University profile
Missouri State University Springfield landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Missouri State University Springfield report
Spokane Community College landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Spokane Community College
Germanna Community College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Germanna Community College
Northcentral Technical College came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Get the full Northcentral Technical College report
Kent State University At Kent placed #31 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Kent State University At Kent report
East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. More on East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Florida Online ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. More on University Of Florida Online
Lord Fairfax Community College landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Lord Fairfax Community College
Davis And Elkins College came in at #35 in this year's ranking. Read more about Davis And Elkins College
Johnson And Wales University Charlotte landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Johnson And Wales University Charlotte report
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington did well this year, earning the #37 position. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington profile
Saint Cloud State University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Read the full report on Saint Cloud State University
Ball State University landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Ball State University
Kansas State University landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. More on Kansas State University
Cumberland University landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Cumberland University
Illinois State University landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Illinois State University
Hannibal Lagrange College ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Recreation Administration schools. Get the full Hannibal Lagrange College report
Truckee Meadows Community College placed #44 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Truckee Meadows Community College
Mount Marty College came in at #45 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Mount Marty College
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #46 in this year's ranking. Read more about Pennsylvania Western University
University Of Nevada Las Vegas placed #47 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas report
Augusta Technical College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. More on Augusta Technical College
Herkimer County Community College placed #49 among Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Herkimer County Community College
North Carolina Central University did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read the full report on North Carolina Central University
Related Recreation Administration Rankings
Compare rankings at 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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).
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