2026 Best Value Recreation Administration Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Recreation Administration doctoral degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 171 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Clemson University earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Clemson University is a public school based in Clemson, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Students borrow a median of $22,592 to complete their Recreation Administration program here. Clemson University alumni report median earnings of $71,513 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Clemson University report
A rank of #2 makes North Carolina State University At Raleigh one of the best values in the United States. Located in Raleigh, NC, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical Recreation Administration student debt is $20,500. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,758. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants. More on North Carolina State University At Raleigh
Out of the 171 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Colorado State University Fort Collins landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Fort Collins, CO. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, 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. Colorado State University Fort Collins alumni report median earnings of $60,543 a decade after entry. Set against $19,628 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Colorado State University Fort Collins
Out of the 171 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Central Wyoming College landed the #4 spot. Read the full report on Central Wyoming College
Out of the 171 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of Florida landed the #5 spot. Read the full report on University Of Florida
Kent State University At Kent placed #6 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Kent State University At Kent
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. See the full Missouri State University Springfield profile
Morris College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Morris College profile
Johnson And Wales University Providence placed #9 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read more about Johnson And Wales University Providence
Madison Area Technical College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full Madison Area Technical College report
University Of Nevada Las Vegas landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Nevada Las Vegas report
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Minnesota State University Mankato report
University Of Maine At Presque Isle came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Maine At Presque Isle
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. More on Santa Rosa Junior College
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny placed #15 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. See the full Pennsylvania State University Penn State Greater Allegheny profile
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. More on University Of North Carolina At Greensboro
Professional Golfers Career College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on Professional Golfers Career College
Red Rocks Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. Read the full report on Red Rocks Community College
Germanna Community College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Germanna Community College
Michigan State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. Get the full Michigan State University report
Ball State University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full Ball State University profile
Moraine Valley Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on Moraine Valley Community College
Lakeland Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Lakeland Community College report
Western Michigan University landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Western Michigan University
Florida International University placed #25 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Florida International University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Recreation Administration Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Montgomery College offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Montgomery College report
Florida State University landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Florida State University report
West Valley College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full West Valley College report
Saint Josephs College Of Maine landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Saint Josephs College Of Maine profile
Tidewater Community College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. Read the full report on Tidewater Community College
University Of Washington Seattle Campus landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of Washington Seattle Campus
Central Arizona College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Central Arizona College report
Gannon University came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. More on Gannon University
Reedley College
Reedley College offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. More on Reedley College
Bucks County Community College came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. See the full Bucks County Community College profile
Illinois State University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Illinois State University
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies
Central Washington University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. More on Central Washington University
Eastern Illinois University landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Eastern Illinois University report
Stephen F Austin State University offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Stephen F Austin State University
George Mason University came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. More on George Mason University
Southwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma Baptist University offered strong value this year, earning the #43 position. More on Oklahoma Baptist University
Wingate University placed #44 among the best-value Recreation Administration schools in the United States. Read the full report on Wingate University
Baldwin Wallace College offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Baldwin Wallace College report
Fresno City College offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. More on Fresno City College
Tompkins Cortland Community College landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Tompkins Cortland Community College report
Cypress College
Cypress College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Recreation Administration schools. More on Cypress College
Diablo Valley College came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Diablo Valley College
The University Of Montana landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full The University Of Montana report
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 Associate’s 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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