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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Master’s Degree Schools

3 Colleges in the United States
213 Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Degrees Awarded
$61,537 Avg Early-Career Salary

Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 67 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 United States

These are the top schools for a master’s degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, based on student outcomes and program quality.

Top Schools in Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy

1
Temple University crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

No school ranked higher than Temple University this year for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. Temple University awarded about 22 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program make about $64,509 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program report for Temple University

2

A rank of #2 makes East Carolina University one of the top schools for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 36 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $67,264 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete this degree. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program report for East Carolina University

3

Grand Valley State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 12 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees were awarded at Grand Valley State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $66,523. Grand Valley State University graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Get the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy details for Grand Valley State University

4

University Of South Alabama is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Alabama in the most recent data year. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $69,115 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy from University Of South Alabama

5
Kean University crest
Kean University
Union, NJ

A rank of #5 makes Kean University one of the top schools for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. The six-year graduation rate is 47%. There were roughly 24 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at Kean University in the most recent data year. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of Kean University earn a median of $73,099 early in their careers. Kean University graduates carry a median of $26,703 in student loans. Get the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy details for Kean University

6
University Of Iowa crest
University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

University Of Iowa earned the #6 position for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of Iowa awarded about 21 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees in the most recent data year. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of University Of Iowa earn a median of $71,754 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463. More information about a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy from University Of Iowa

7

Eastern Michigan University landed the #7 spot for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. Eastern Michigan University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 20 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Michigan University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program make about $52,615 in their early career. Eastern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $27,425 in student loans. More information about a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy from Eastern Michigan University

8

Texas State University San Marcos earned the #8 position for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Texas State University San Marcos graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at Texas State University San Marcos in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $40,947. Typical student debt for the program is $23,659. Read more about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Texas State University San Marcos

9

Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania placed #9 among the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. About 66% of students finish within six years. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania awarded about 27 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn around $42,447 in the first couple years of their career. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania

10

Winston Salem State University earned the #10 position for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Winston Salem State University graduates 47% of students within six years. About 28 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees were awarded at Winston Salem State University in the most recent year. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of Winston Salem State University earn a median of $67,097 early in their careers. Winston Salem State University graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Read more about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Winston Salem State University

Other Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Degree Levels

Explore the best therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy
Associate's Degrees in Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy
Bachelor's Degrees in Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy
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View All Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Rankings >

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 67 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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