2026 Best Value Recreation Administration Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Recreation Administration associate’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 171 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 arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed 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 Recreation Administration Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat Mt San Antonio College this year in the United States. Based in Walnut, CA, Mt San Antonio College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Graduates carry a median of $9,384 in student loans. Median earnings reach $46,283 ten years out. Set against $9,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Mt San Antonio College
Out of the 171 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale landed the #2 spot. Set in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,056. Graduates carry a median of $16,625 in student loans. Median earnings reach $39,696 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $16,625 median debt. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale has an acceptance rate of 97%. See the full Keiser University Ft Lauderdale profile
Out of the 171 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, College Of The Ozarks landed the #3 spot. Read more about College Of The Ozarks
A rank of #4 makes Winston Salem State University one of the best values in the United States. See the full Winston Salem State University profile
A rank of #5 makes Anoka Technical College one of the best values in the United States. More on Anoka Technical College
Clemson University placed #6 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Clemson University
Frostburg State University offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. See the full Frostburg State University profile
Old Dominion University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. See the full Old Dominion University profile
Reedley College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. More on Reedley College
Kent State University At Kent offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. See the full Kent State University At Kent profile
Western Carolina University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Read more about Western Carolina University
Lake Superior State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. Read the full report on Lake Superior State University
Saint Cloud State University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read more about Saint Cloud State University
The University Of Montana offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. More on The University Of Montana
Morris College
Morris College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read the full report on Morris College
Western Illinois University landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Western Illinois University
Elon University
Elon University landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Elon University profile
University Of Florida placed #18 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Florida report
Sandhills Community College placed #19 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Sandhills Community College
Germanna Community College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Germanna Community College report
Suny College At Cortland landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Suny College At Cortland
Vermont Technical College placed #22 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Vermont Technical College
Everglades University placed #23 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Get the full Everglades University report
Green River Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. Get the full Green River Community College report
Florida State University placed #25 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Florida State University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Recreation Administration Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Wingate University landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Wingate University profile
Fresno City College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full Fresno City College profile
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #28 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Cincinnati State Technical And Community College
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Truckee Meadows Community College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Truckee Meadows Community College
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. Get the full University Of Wisconsin La Crosse report
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Minnesota State University Mankato
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. More on Pennsylvania Western University
Warren Wilson College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Warren Wilson College report
Central Arizona College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on Central Arizona College
Red Rocks Community College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Red Rocks Community College
Cypress College
Cypress College came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. More on Cypress College
University Of Northern Colorado ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. More on University Of Northern Colorado
Scottsdale Community College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Scottsdale Community College
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #40 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Northern Virginia Community College report
Appalachian State University ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. More on Appalachian State University
Ball State University placed #42 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Ball State University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #43 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. More on Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Central Washington University came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. See the full Central Washington University profile
Bellevue College
Bellevue College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. See the full Bellevue College profile
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania
University Of Idaho placed #47 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Idaho
Dakota College At Bottineau ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. Read the full report on Dakota College At Bottineau
Bucks County Community College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Bucks County Community College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny profile
Related Recreation Administration Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Recreation Administration Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Recreation Administration Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Recreation Administration Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Recreation Administration Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Recreation Administration Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Recreation Administration Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Recreation Administration Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 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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