2026 Best Value Recreation Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Recreation Administration](/majors/parks-recreation-fitness/recreation-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 26 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value recreation administration schools.
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2026 Best Value Recreation Administration Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in recreation administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Recreation Administration Schools
Western Illinois University earned the #1 spot for value among recreation administration schools in the Great Lakes Region. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the recreation administration program here. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $34,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse earned it the #2 place for recreation administration. Set in the city of La Crosse, University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, while out-of-state students pay about $19,517. Students borrow a median of $22,005 to complete the recreation administration program here. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $34,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Illinois State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in recreation administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Recreation Administration graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Early-career recreation administration graduates make about $39,104. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #4 place for recreation administration. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, compared with $44,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,939 to complete the recreation administration program here. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $35,343. Set against $24,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
