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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools in the Great Lakes Region

6 Colleges in the United States
158 Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Degrees Awarded
$54,020 Avg Early-Career Salary

Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin La Crosse the best school in the country for a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Located in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public university. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates 71% of students within six years. About 43 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Graduates of the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program make about $61,039 in their early career. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse graduates carry a median of $21,374 in student loans. More information about a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse

2

Students looking for a strong therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program will find one at Grand Valley State University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Grand Valley State University awarded about 49 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program make about $65,197 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program report for Grand Valley State University

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Toledo one of the top schools for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. This large public university is located in the city of Toledo. University Of Toledo graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 21 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Toledo in the most recent data year. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $55,685 early in their careers. University Of Toledo graduates carry a median of $24,875 in student loans. Get the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy details for University Of Toledo

4
Aurora University crest
Aurora University
Aurora, IL

Students looking for a strong therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program will find one at Aurora University, which ranked #4. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Aurora University awarded about 12 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees in the most recent data year. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $41,856 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete this degree. Read more about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Aurora University

5
Central Michigan University crest
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI

Students looking for a strong therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program will find one at Central Michigan University, which ranked #5. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. About 13 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees were awarded at Central Michigan University in the most recent year. Students who receive their therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree from Central Michigan University earn around $57,073 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. More information about a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy from Central Michigan University

6

Eastern Michigan University placed #6 among the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 20 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees were awarded at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $43,271. Students borrow a median of $27,425 to complete this degree. Read more about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Eastern Michigan University

Narrow Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools by State

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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