2026 Best Value Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools in the Southeast Region
[Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/therapeutic-recreation-recreational-therapy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools
For return on investment in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, no school beat Western Carolina University this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program here. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $54,814. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Southern Mississippi one of the best values for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi generally make around $52,338. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Winston Salem State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,782. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program here. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $58,227. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Winston Salem State University admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Alabama earned it the #4 place for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Located in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,116, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program here. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $73,705. Set against $26,513 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
East Carolina University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates is $26,000. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $56,764 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $39,366. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Southern University And A And M College earned the #7 position for value in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baton Rouge. In-state tuition and fees average $9,922, while out-of-state students pay about $17,272. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates carry a median of $38,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from Southern University And A And M College generally make around $30,636. That is a strong return on a $38,000 median debt. Roughly 35% of applicants are accepted.
Longwood University earned the #8 position for value in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,740, compared with $27,980 for out-of-state students. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates carry a median of $26,808 in student loans. Early-career therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates make about $41,700. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Nova Southeastern University earned the #9 position for value in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,700. Typical student debt for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy graduates is $25,021. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of Nova Southeastern University earn a median of $70,595 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
