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Most Popular Schools for Recreation Administration

2026 Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools

There are 171 colleges that offer a degree in Recreation Administration. The most popular schools, by student demand, are below:

Finding the Best Recreation Administration School for You

When it comes to higher education, there are a lot of options for Recreation Administration students. You can choose a traditional brick-and-mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school halfway across the country without even leaving your house.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. This report analyzed 171 schools in the United States to see which Recreation Administration programs were the most popular. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school’s program.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools.

#1

Clemson University

Clemson, SC

Our 2026 rankings named Clemson University the most popular school in the U.S. for Recreation Administration majors. Located in Clemson, SC, this is a public institution. This school awarded 143 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $51,401. Read More…

#2

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL

University of Florida landed the #2 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. University of Florida is a public school located in Gainesville, FL. This school awarded 97 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $48,898. Read More…

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus comes in at #3 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is a public school located in University Park, PA. This school awarded 86 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $54,468. Read full report on Recreation Administration at Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

Florida International University comes in at #4 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Located in Miami, FL, this is a public institution. This school awarded 77 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,919. Read full report on Recreation Administration at Florida International University

University of North Texas landed the #5 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Located in Denton, TX, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 76 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $42,036. Read full report on Recreation Administration at University of North Texas

Colorado State University-Fort Collins landed the #6 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Located in Fort Collins, CO, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 72 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $43,283. Read full report on Recreation Administration at Colorado State University-Fort Collins

#7

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale comes in at #7 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale is a private nonprofit school located in Fort Lauderdale, FL. During the most recent year for which we have data, 69 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $41,151. Read More…

North Carolina State University at Raleigh landed the #8 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Located in Raleigh, NC, this is a public institution. This school awarded 68 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $50,866. Full Recreation Administration at North Carolina State University at Raleigh Report

Appalachian State University comes in at #9 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Located in Boone, NC, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 67 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $37,893. Full Recreation Administration at Appalachian State University Report

Middle Tennessee State University landed the #10 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Middle Tennessee State University is a public school located in Murfreesboro, TN. This school awarded 64 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $38,819. Full Recreation Administration at Middle Tennessee State University Report

Professional Golfers Career College comes in at #11 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Professional Golfers Career College is a private for-profit school located in Temecula, CA. During the most recent year for which we have data, 56 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $30,943. Full Recreation Administration at Professional Golfers Career College Report

Illinois State University comes in at #12 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Located in Normal, IL, this is a public institution. This school awarded 54 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $46,159. Read More…

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus comes in at #13 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Located in Durham, NH, this is a public institution. This school awarded 54 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $48,645. Full Recreation Administration at University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Report

#14

Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY

Western Kentucky University comes in at #14 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Western Kentucky University is a public school located in Bowling Green, KY. During the most recent year for which we have data, 53 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,545. Read More…

Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania landed the #15 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a public school located in Slippery Rock, PA. This school awarded 52 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $42,776. Full Recreation Administration at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Report

#16

University of West Georgia

Carrollton, GA

University of West Georgia landed the #16 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Located in Carrollton, GA, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 48 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $39,461. Read More…

Brigham Young University-Idaho comes in at #17 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Brigham Young University-Idaho is a private nonprofit school located in Rexburg, ID. During the most recent year for which we have data, 39 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,371. Read More…

#18

Frostburg State University

Frostburg, MD

Frostburg State University landed the #18 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Frostburg State University is a public school located in Frostburg, MD. This school awarded 37 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $43,388. Full Recreation Administration at Frostburg State University Report

#19

University of Mississippi

University, MS

University of Mississippi comes in at #19 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Located in University, MS, this is a public institution. This school awarded 36 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $42,857. Read More…

University of North Carolina Wilmington comes in at #20 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. University of North Carolina Wilmington is a public school located in Wilmington, NC. This school awarded 36 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $44,355. Full Recreation Administration at University of North Carolina Wilmington Report

Johnson & Wales University-Providence landed the #21 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Johnson & Wales University-Providence is a private nonprofit school located in Providence, RI. During the most recent year for which we have data, 34 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $33,862. Read More…

#22

Utah Tech University

Saint George, UT

Utah Tech University landed the #22 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Utah Tech University is a public school located in Saint George, UT. This school awarded 33 degrees in Recreation Administration in the most recent reporting year. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $41,494. Full Recreation Administration at Utah Tech University Report

#23

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX

Texas State University comes in at #23 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Texas State University is a public school located in San Marcos, TX. During the most recent year for which we have data, 32 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $42,210. Read full report on Recreation Administration at Texas State University

#24

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC

Western Carolina University landed the #24 spot in the 2026 edition of our Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking. Located in Cullowhee, NC, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 31 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates of this program go on to a median salary of $40,015. Read full report on Recreation Administration at Western Carolina University

#25

Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL

Florida State University comes in at #25 on our 2026 list of the most popular colleges for Recreation Administration majors. Located in Tallahassee, FL, this is a public institution. During the most recent year for which we have data, 29 people earned their degree in Recreation Administration from this school. Graduates who hold this degree go on to make a median salary of $40,895. Read More…

#26

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA
#29

University of Florida-Online

Gainesville, FL
#30

University of Idaho

Moscow, ID
#32

Kansas State University

Manhattan, KS
#37

Green River College

Auburn, WA
#39

Henderson State University

Arkadelphia, AR
#41

New England College

Henniker, NH
#42

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV
#43

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI
#44

SUNY Brockport

Brockport, NY
#45

Colorado Mesa University

Grand Junction, CO
#46

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR
#47

Chowan University

Murfreesboro, NC
#48

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA
#50

Lees-McRae College

Banner Elk, NC

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that also graduate students in this major every year.

Rank College Location
51 Missouri Western State University Saint Joseph, MO
52 St. Joseph’s University-New York Brooklyn, NY
53 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, NC
54 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO
55 Mt San Antonio College Walnut, CA
56 Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford, OK
57 Kean University Union, NJ
58 Pennsylvania State University-World Campus University Park, PA
59 North Carolina Central University Durham, NC
60 Trinity Christian College Palos Heights, IL
61 Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR
62 Morris College Sumter, SC
63 Santa Rosa Junior College Santa Rosa, CA
64 University of Maine Orono, ME
65 University of St Francis Joliet, IL
66 Aurora University Aurora, IL
67 Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Fayette, MO
68 Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA
69 Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Charlotte, NC
70 Marshall University Huntington, WV
71 Reedley College Reedley, CA
72 Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN
73 Stephen F Austin State University Nacogdoches, TX
74 Alabama State University Montgomery, AL
75 College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO
76 Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA
77 Kent State University at Kent Kent, OH
78 Lindsey Wilson College Columbia, KY
79 Mount Marty University Yankton, SD
80 Snow College Ephraim, UT
81 Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA
82 Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN
83 Southwest Wisconsin Technical College Fennimore, WI
84 Sullivan County Community College Loch Sheldrake, NY
85 Central Arizona College Coolidge, AZ
86 Central Wyoming College Riverton, WY
87 Cypress College Cypress, CA
88 Davis & Elkins College Elkins, WV
89 Gogebic Community College Ironwood, MI
90 Hannibal-LaGrange University Hannibal, MO
91 Northcentral Technical College Wausau, WI
92 Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, AZ
93 Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA
94 Trine University Angola, IN
95 Truckee Meadows Community College Reno, NV
96 Vermont State University Randolph, VT
97 Chicago State University Chicago, IL
98 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania East Stroudsburg, PA
99 John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR
100 Lake Superior State University Sault Ste Marie, MI
101 Madison Area Technical College Madison, WI
102 North Country Community College Saranac Lake, NY
103 Oklahoma Baptist University Shawnee, OK
104 Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK
105 Springfield College Springfield, MA
106 State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, NY
107 University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK
108 Wingate University Wingate, NC
109 Ball State University Muncie, IN
110 Bellevue College Bellevue, WA
111 Belmont Abbey College Belmont, NC
112 East Mississippi Community College Scooba, MS
113 Eastern Illinois University Charleston, IL
114 Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO
115 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL
116 Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA
117 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington Abington, PA
118 Pennsylvania Western University California, PA
119 Springfield College-Regional, Online, and Continuing Education Springfield, MA
120 Tompkins Cortland Community College Dryden, NY
121 Towson University Towson, MD
122 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
123 Baldwin Wallace University Berea, OH
124 Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI
125 College of the Desert Palm Desert, CA
126 Dakota College at Bottineau Bottineau, ND
127 Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CA
128 Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny McKeesport, PA
129 SUNY College of Technology at Delhi Delhi, NY
130 Sierra College Rocklin, CA
131 Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN
132 Briar Cliff University Sioux City, IA
133 Bucks County Community College Newtown, PA
134 Butte College Oroville, CA
135 Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies Fayette, MO
136 Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA
137 Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Cheyney, PA
138 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, OH
139 County College of Morris Randolph, NJ
140 Cumberland University Lebanon, TN
141 Elon University Elon, NC
142 Everglades University Boca Raton, FL
143 Fresno City College Fresno, CA
144 Gannon University Erie, PA
145 Hastings College Hastings, NE
146 Indian River State College Fort Pierce, FL
147 Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, IN
148 Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA
149 Lakeland Community College Kirtland, OH
150 Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown, VA
151 Mohawk Valley Community College Utica, NY
152 Montgomery College Rockville, MD
153 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, MO
154 Onondaga Community College Syracuse, NY
155 Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Standish, ME
156 Sandhills Community College Pinehurst, NC
157 Southeastern Illinois College Harrisburg, IL
158 Southwest Virginia Community College Cedar Bluff, VA
159 Spokane Community College Spokane, WA
160 Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX
161 The University of Montana Missoula, MT
162 Union Commonwealth University Barbourville, KY
163 Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey Campus San Juan, PR
164 University of Maine at Presque Isle Presque Isle, ME
165 University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
166 University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Mayaguez, PR
167 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA
168 Warren Wilson College Swannanoa, NC
169 Wayland Baptist University Plainview, TX
170 West Valley College Saratoga, CA
171 Winston-Salem State University Winston-Salem, NC

Recreation Administration by Region

View the Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking for a specific region near you.

Region
New England
Middle Atlantic
Great Lakes
Plains States
Southeast
Southwest
Rocky Mountains
Far Western US

More Recreation Administration Rankings

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the Most Popular Recreation Administration Schools ranking, along with other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

Recreation Administration Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Parks & Rec Facilities Management 2,129
Golf Course Management 161
Other Parks & Rec Facilities Mgmt 1
Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Physical Education 65,261
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies 2,155
Other Parks & Recreation Studies 355
Outdoor Education 336

References

*The average salary above is for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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