ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Schools in the Southeast Region

7 Colleges in the United States
181 Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Degrees Awarded
$50,944 Avg Early-Career Salary

Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/therapeutic-recreation-recreational-therapy/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/therapeutic-recreation-recreational-therapy/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/therapeutic-recreation-recreational-therapy/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/therapeutic-recreation-recreational-therapy/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/therapeutic-recreation-recreational-therapy/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/therapeutic-recreation-recreational-therapy/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/therapeutic-recreation-recreational-therapy/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget

Best Schools for Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy in the Southeast 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

No school ranked higher than University Of North Carolina At Wilmington this year for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington awarded about 28 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $39,366. University Of North Carolina At Wilmington graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program report for University Of North Carolina At Wilmington

2

Students looking for a strong therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program will find one at East Carolina University, which ranked #2. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 36 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program make about $56,764 in their early career. 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

University Of South Alabama is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, ranking #3. This large public university is located in the city of Mobile. University Of South Alabama graduates 52% of students within six years. About 11 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees were awarded at University Of South Alabama in the most recent year. Students who receive their therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree from University Of South Alabama earn around $73,705 in the first couple years of their career. University Of South Alabama graduates carry a median of $26,513 in student loans. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program report for University Of South Alabama

4

A rank of #4 makes Western Carolina University one of the top schools for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. About 19 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Students who receive their therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree from Western Carolina University earn around $54,814 in the first couple years of their career. Western Carolina University graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program report for Western Carolina University

5
Longwood University crest
Longwood University
Farmville, VA

Longwood University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy, ranking #5. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at Longwood University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree from Longwood University earn around $41,700 in the first couple years of their career. Longwood University graduates carry a median of $26,808 in student loans. See the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program report for Longwood University

6

University Of Southern Mississippi landed the #6 spot for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. This large public university is located in the city of Hattiesburg. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Mississippi in the most recent data year. Therapeutic Recreation/recreational Therapy graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $52,338 early in their careers. University Of Southern Mississippi graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Get the full therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy details for University Of Southern Mississippi

7

Winston Salem State University came in at #7 for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 47% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 28 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degrees were awarded at Winston Salem State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy degree from Winston Salem State University earn around $58,227 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program at Winston Salem State University

8

Southern University And A And M College earned the #8 position for therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 27%. There were roughly 30 therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy students who graduated with this degree at Southern University And A And M College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy program make about $30,636 in their early career. Southern University And A And M College graduates carry a median of $38,000 in student loans. More information about a degree in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy from Southern University And A And M College

ADBLOCK #173
View All Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options