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Best Schools for Recreation Administration 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 recreation administration degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Recreation Administration
Illinois State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best recreation administration schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Illinois State University graduates 64% of students within six years. Illinois State University awarded about 54 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Recreation Administration graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $39,104 early in their careers. Illinois State University graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans.
Get the full recreation administration details for Illinois State University
Students looking for a strong recreation administration program will find one at Michigan State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 recreation administration degrees were awarded at Michigan State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the recreation administration program make about $35,343 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,939.
More information about a degree in recreation administration from Michigan State University
Students looking for a strong recreation administration program will find one at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse, which ranked #3. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 26 recreation administration degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin La Crosse in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $34,490. Typical student debt for the program is $22,005.
Get the full recreation administration details for University Of Wisconsin La Crosse
Students looking for a strong recreation administration program will find one at Western Illinois University, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. About 45% of students finish within six years. Western Illinois University awarded about 24 recreation administration degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, recreation administration degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $34,131. Western Illinois University graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans.
See the full recreation administration program report for Western Illinois University
Narrow Recreation Administration Schools by State
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 · 26 schools evaluated.
- 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.
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