---

2026 Best Value Outdoor Education Schools in the Southeast Region

[Outdoor Education](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/outdoor-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for outdoor education students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Outdoor Education Schools in the Southeast Region

2026 Best Value Outdoor Education Schools in the Southeast Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the outdoor education degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Outdoor Education Schools

1

Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC

$4,630 In-State Tuition & Fees

$24,174 Avg Student Debt

$49,458 Median Earnings (10yr)

Western Carolina University earned the #1 spot for value among outdoor education schools in the Southeast Region. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $8,630. Students borrow a median of $24,174 to complete the outdoor education program here. Soon after graduation, outdoor education degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $44,926. That is a strong return on a $24,174 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.

2

Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC

$41,500 In-State Tuition & Fees

$36,260 Median Earnings (10yr)

Warren Wilson College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in outdoor education, landing the #2 spot this year. Warren Wilson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Swannanoa. In-state tuition and fees average $41,500. Median earnings reach $36,260 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 71%.

View All Outdoor Education Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.