842
Graduates Per Year
$57K
Average Salary
#231
Most Popular Major
Degree Stats
Popular
842
13% NATIONAL AVG
Diplomas Received Last Year
32
5% NATIONAL AVG
Colleges Offering this Degree
Most Popular Degrees
230
Religious Education
843
231
Recreational Therapy
842
232
Ecology
835
Most Widely Offered Degrees
35
/
1.852
Worse
Better
Degree Granting Schools that are Public
Most Graduates
By Region
Great Lakes
Central Michigan University
By State
North Carolina
East Carolina University
By Conference
Mid-American Conference
Central Michigan University
By School
Manchester Community College
If you think life as a recreational therapist, bouldering instructor, or yoga instructor sounds interesting, then a degree in recreational therapy may just be for you. You could even become the owner of a hot yoga studio!
Recreational therapy is the 231st most popular degree in America, with 842 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #232 Ecology, and narrowly lost to #230 Religious Education
The degree is offered at a total of 32 colleges across the nation, and is the 334th most widely offered degree. It is not offered at any of the Top 100 Best Collegesin America.
It is also worth noting that 7 out of 10 colleges offering recreational therapy are public making it a quite accessible field.
The great lakes produces the most recreational therapy graduates, largely led by Central Michigan University, while it’s the Mid-American Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, North Carolina ranks highest, with particular help from East Carolina Universityand University of North Carolina Wilmington.
All that being said, no individual school produces more recreational therapy graduates than Manchester Community College, which graduated 74 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study recreational therapy). More students studied recreational therapy as a percentage of total students at Unity Collegethan any other college.
Good luck on your college search and we hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
Good luck on your college search. We hope you enjoy Authority's 2022 official Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy list. Some of our picks may surprise you!
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#1 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is a large public college located in La Crosse, WI ranked 7thin Wisconsin. It has a total of 10,395 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 73% acceptance rate. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse offers 70 different majors and is best known for its recreational therapy, nuclear medical technology, and archeology programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $7,585 for in-state students and $16,404 for those from out-of-state, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is moderately priced. 67.96% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, entering the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $48,000 per year, which is 16% above the national median.
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La Crosse, WI
www.uwlax.edu
B-
Rating
73%
Acceptance
11,500
Students
# 164
Ranking
$16,404
Tuition
#2 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Temple University is a very large public university located in Philadelphia, PA ranked 253rdin the United States. It has a total of 31,632 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting barely north of 3 in every 5 applicants. Temple University offers 493 different majors and is best known for its organizational communication, recreational therapy, and social studies teacher education programs, which are all nationally ranked 2nd. With a tuition cost of $16,080 for students from Pennsylvania and $28,992 for those from out-of-state, Temple University is somewhat moderately expensive. 69.66% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $50,500 per year, which is 22% greater than the national median.
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Philadelphia, PA
www.temple.edu
A-
Rating
60%
Acceptance
43,154
Students
# 67
Ranking
$28,992
Tuition
#3 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is a mid-sized public college located in Slippery Rock, PA ranked 63rdin Pennsylvania. It has a total of 8,432 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting just above seven out of every ten applicants. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania offers 87 different majors and is best known for its quality control and safety technologies, special education and teaching, and recreational therapy programs (nationally ranked 1st, 3rd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $7,716 for students from Pennsylvania and $11,574 for those from out-of-state, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania is relatively inexpensive. 63.11% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $41,700 per year, which is 0% greater than the national median.
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Slippery Rock, PA
https://www.sru.edu
C+
Rating
71%
Acceptance
10,366
Students
# 220
Ranking
$11,574
Tuition
#4 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
University of North Carolina Wilmington is a large public institution located in Wilmington, NC ranked 10thin North Carolina. It has a total of 16,615 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 65.45% acceptance rate. University of North Carolina Wilmington offers 104 different majors and is best known for its marine biology and biological oceanography, recreational therapy, and middle school education and teaching programs (nationally ranked 3rd, 4th, and 28th respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,443 for students from North Carolina and $18,508 for those from out-of-state, University of North Carolina Wilmington is moderately priced. 66.36% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $41,600 per year, which is 0% above the national median.
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Wilmington, NC
www.uncw.edu
B
Rating
65%
Acceptance
19,400
Students
# 152
Ranking
$18,508
Tuition
#5 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
East Carolina University is a very large public university located in Greenville, NC ranked 16thin North Carolina. It has a total of 25,196 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting in the neighborhood of seven out of nine applicants. East Carolina University offers 187 different majors and is best known for its industrial production technologies, accounting and business management, and home economics teacher education programs (nationally ranked 1st, 3rd, and 3rd respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,452 for in-state students and $20,729 for those from out-of-state, East Carolina University is somewhat moderately expensive. 61.11% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $40,500 per year, which is 2% under the national median.
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Greenville, NC
www.ecu.edu
C+
Rating
79%
Acceptance
32,028
Students
# 232
Ranking
$20,729
Tuition
#6 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
CUNY Lehman College is a large public college located in Bronx, NY ranked 68thin New York. It has a total of 16,872 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, with a 37.78% acceptance rate. CUNY Lehman College offers 168 different majors and is best known for its health care facilities administration, latin american and caribbean studies, and clinical nutrition services programs (nationally ranked 1st, 2nd, and 4th respectively). With a tuition cost of $6,930 for students from New York and $14,880 for those from out-of-state, CUNY Lehman College is reasonably priced. 48.24% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $43,100 per year, which is 4% over the national median.
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Bronx, NY
www.lehman.edu/
B
Rating
38%
Acceptance
19,565
Students
# 149
Ranking
$14,880
Tuition
#7 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Brigham Young University-Provo is a very large private university located in Provo, UT ranked 233rdin the United States. It has a total of 35,951 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 67.49% of applicants. Brigham Young University-Provo offers 310 different majors and is best known for its family systems, portuguese language and literature, and spanish language teacher education programs, which are all nationally ranked 1st. With a tuition cost of $5,790 per year, Brigham Young University-Provo is very affordable. 66.32% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $59,700 per year, which is 44% over the national median.
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Provo, UT
www.byu.edu
A-
Rating
67%
Acceptance
39,233
Students
# 168
Ranking
$5,790
Tuition
#8 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Calvin University is a small private institution located in Grand Rapids, MI ranked 6thin Michigan. It has a total of 3,793 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 76.9% of applicants. Calvin University offers 85 different majors and is best known for its recreational therapy, science teacher education, and organizational communication programs (nationally ranked 8th, 10th, and 13th respectively). With a tuition cost of $36,100 per year, Calvin University is somewhat moderately expensive. 63.9% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, joining the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $44,800 per year, which is 8% above the national median.
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Grand Rapids, MI
www.calvin.edu
B+
Rating
77%
Acceptance
4,121
Students
# 245
Ranking
$36,100
Tuition
#9 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
SUNY Cortland is a mid-sized public college located in Cortland, NY ranked 67thin New York. It has a total of 7,029 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 46.04% of applicants. SUNY Cortland offers 87 different majors and is best known for its physical education, teaching english as a second language, and fitness administration programs (nationally ranked 5th, 5th, and 7th respectively). With a tuition cost of $7,070 for students from New York and $16,980 for those from out-of-state, SUNY Cortland is reasonably priced. 65.24% of students graduate moving on to the next stage of their lives, entering the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $47,000 per year, which is 13% greater than the national median.
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Cortland, NY
www2.cortland.edu
B
Rating
46%
Acceptance
7,737
Students
# 139
Ranking
$16,980
Tuition
#10 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
University of Utah is a very large public university located in Salt Lake City, UT ranked 263rdin the US. It has a total of 29,554 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 62.12% of applicants. University of Utah offers 384 different majors and is best known for its dance, family and consumer economics, and recreational therapy programs (nationally ranked 6th, 10th, and 10th respectively). With a tuition cost of $7,412 for students from Utah and $26,017 for those from out-of-state, University of Utah is reasonably expensive. 56.98% of students graduate starting the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $53,000 per year, which is 28% above the national median.
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Salt Lake City, UT
www.utah.edu
A-
Rating
62%
Acceptance
38,652
Students
# 71
Ranking
$26,017
Tuition
#11 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Central Michigan University is a large public university located in Mount Pleasant, MI ranked 19thin Michigan. It has a total of 17,975 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 69.51% of applicants. Central Michigan University offers 235 different majors and is best known for its photojournalism, family systems, and recreational therapy programs (nationally ranked 6th, 10th, and 11th respectively). With a tuition cost of $12,510 for students from Michigan and $23,670 for those from out-of-state, Central Michigan University is somewhat moderately expensive. 56.42% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $41,900 per year, which is 1% over the national median.
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Mount Pleasant, MI
https://www.cmich.edu
C+
Rating
70%
Acceptance
24,917
Students
# 270
Ranking
$23,670
Tuition
#12 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Southern University and A & M College is a mid-sized historically black public college located in Baton Rouge, LA ranked 23rdin Louisiana. It has a total of 6,665 full-time undergraduate students and is somewhat competitive, accepting 34.9% of applicants. Southern University and A & M College offers 91 different majors and is best known for its recreational therapy, forestry, and human sciences programs (nationally ranked 12th, 38th, and 40th respectively). With a tuition cost of $4,972 per year, Southern University and A & M College is quite low-priced. 30.88% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $34,700 per year, which is 16% below the national median.
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Baton Rouge, LA
www.subr.edu
C
Rating
35%
Acceptance
7,747
Students
# 595
Ranking
$4,972
Tuition
#13 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Unity College is a very small private college located in Unity, ME ranked 11thin Maine. It has a total of 812 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 98.27% acceptance rate. Unity College offers 27 different majors and is best known for its recreational therapy, wildlife fish and wildlands science and management, and natural resources management and policy programs (nationally ranked 13th, 19th, and 27th respectively). With a tuition cost of $28,800 per year, Unity College is reasonably high-priced. 63.25% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, joining the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $34,100 per year, which is 18% less than the national median.
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Unity, ME
https://www.unity.edu
C
Rating
98%
Acceptance
967
Students
# 909
Ranking
$28,800
Tuition
#14 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
University of Toledo is a large public university located in Toledo, OH ranked 76thin Ohio. It has a total of 17,581 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 96.4% of applicants. University of Toledo offers 352 different majors and is best known for its recreational therapy, electromechanical instrumentation and maintenance technologies, and health care facilities administration programs (nationally ranked 14th, 14th, and 20th respectively). With a tuition cost of $8,834 for students from Ohio and $18,194 for those from out-of-state, University of Toledo is reasonably priced. 36.58% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, joining the workforce. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $43,800 per year, which is 5% above the national median.
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Toledo, OH
www.utoledo.edu/
C
Rating
96%
Acceptance
22,439
Students
# 530
Ranking
$18,194
Tuition
#15 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Western Carolina University is a large public institution located in Cullowhee, NC ranked 24thin North Carolina. It has a total of 11,303 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 68.71% of applicants. Western Carolina University offers 107 different majors and is best known for its forensic chemistry, emergency medical technology, and recreational therapy programs (nationally ranked 5th, 8th, and 15th respectively). With a tuition cost of $1,000 for students from North Carolina and $5,000 for those from out-of-state, Western Carolina University is very inexpensive. 57.29% of students graduate starting the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $37,700 per year, which is 9% under the national median.
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Cullowhee, NC
www.wcu.edu
C+
Rating
69%
Acceptance
13,342
Students
# 309
Ranking
$5,000
Tuition
#16 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Indiana Institute of Technology is a small private business school located in Fort Wayne, IN ranked 34thin Indiana. It has a total of 1,585 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 59.64% of applicants. Indiana Institute of Technology offers 50 different majors and is best known for its recreational therapyand computer systems networking and telecommunications programs, which are respectively ranked 16th and 38th in the nation. With a tuition cost of $26,990 per year, Indiana Institute of Technology is somewhat moderately expensive. 18.21% of students graduate beginning the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $42,700 per year, which is 3% greater than the national median.
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Fort Wayne, IN
www.indianatech.edu
C
Rating
60%
Acceptance
2,470
Students
# 873
Ranking
$26,990
Tuition
#17 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Winston-Salem State University is a mid-sized historically black public institution located in Winston-Salem, NC ranked 41stin North Carolina. It has a total of 5,382 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting something like two thirds of applicants. Winston-Salem State University offers 54 different majors and is best known for its recreational therapyand preschool education and teaching programs, which are respectively ranked 17th and 31st in the nation. With a tuition cost of $3,401 for in-state students and $13,648 for those from out-of-state, Winston-Salem State University is pretty inexpensive. 47.01% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $33,200 per year, which is 20% below the national median.
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Winston-Salem, NC
www.wssu.edu
C
Rating
68%
Acceptance
5,915
Students
# 517
Ranking
$13,648
Tuition
#18 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Utica College is a small private college located in Utica, NY with a student to faculty ratio of 11 to 1. It has a total of 4,927 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 86.84% acceptance rate. Utica College offers 77 different majors and is best known for its developmental and child psychology, physiological psychology, and homeland security programs (nationally ranked 14th, 14th, and 17th respectively). With a tuition cost of $21,560 per year, Utica College is somewhat moderately pricey. 53.19% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $45,300 per year, which is 9% over the national median.
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Utica, NY
https://www.utica.edu/
C
Rating
87%
Acceptance
7,176
Students
# 763
Ranking
$21,560
Tuition
#19 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution located in Allendale, MI ranked 18thin Michigan. It has a total of 23,713 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting slightly below 5 in every 6 applicants. Grand Valley State University offers 133 different majors and is best known for its pre medical studies, quality control and safety technologies, and manufacturing engineering programs (nationally ranked 12th, 16th, and 18th respectively). With a tuition cost of $12,860 for in-state students and $18,296 for those from out-of-state, Grand Valley State University is moderately priced. 59.2% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $42,800 per year, which is 3% over the national median.
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Allendale, MI
www.gvsu.edu
C+
Rating
83%
Acceptance
27,752
Students
# 264
Ranking
$18,296
Tuition
#20 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Eastern Michigan University is a large public college located in Ypsilanti, MI ranked 38thin Michigan. It has a total of 18,388 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, accepting 74.06% of applicants. Eastern Michigan University offers 350 different majors and is best known for its fine and studio arts management, recreational therapy, and occupational therapy programs (nationally ranked 18th, 20th, and 22nd respectively). With a tuition cost of $13,658 per year, Eastern Michigan University is pretty affordable. 42.58% of students graduate ready to the next phase of their lives, entering the labor market. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $39,300 per year, which is 5% below the national median.
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Ypsilanti, MI
www.emich.edu
C
Rating
74%
Acceptance
22,327
Students
# 410
Ranking
$13,658
Tuition
#21 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Eastern Washington University is a large public institution located in Cheney, WA ranked 22ndin Washington. It has a total of 13,910 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 95.7% acceptance rate. Eastern Washington University offers 144 different majors and is best known for its developmental and child psychology, web design, and teaching english as a second language programs (nationally ranked 12th, 14th, and 18th respectively). With a tuition cost of $6,543 for in-state students and $24,074 for those from out-of-state, Eastern Washington University is reasonably high-priced. 53.27% of students graduate beginning the next chapter of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $43,100 per year, which is 4% above the national median.
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Cheney, WA
www.ewu.edu
C+
Rating
96%
Acceptance
15,961
Students
# 341
Ranking
$24,074
Tuition
#22 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Longwood University is a small public institution located in Farmville, VA ranked 34thin Virginia. It has a total of 5,124 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, with a 89.89% acceptance rate. Longwood University offers 32 different majors and is best known for its recreational therapy program, which is ranked 22nd in the United States. With a tuition cost of $7,940 for students from Virginia and $23,900 for those from out-of-state, Longwood University is somewhat moderately high-priced. 55.87% of students graduate moving on to the next phase of their lives, joining the labor force. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $41,500 per year, which is 0% under the national median.
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Farmville, VA
www.longwood.edu
C+
Rating
90%
Acceptance
5,864
Students
# 335
Ranking
$23,900
Tuition
#23 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
Catawba College is a small private institution located in Salisbury, NC ranked 19thin North Carolina. It has a total of 1,467 full-time undergraduate students and is not very competitive, with a 49.51% acceptance rate. Catawba College offers 44 different majors and is best known for its preschool education and teachingand recreational therapy programs, which are respectively ranked 17th and 23rd in the US. With a tuition cost of $30,520 per year, Catawba College is reasonably expensive. 43.87% of students graduate moving on to the next chapter of their lives, employment. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $39,400 per year, which is 5% less than the national median.
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Salisbury, NC
www.catawba.edu
C+
Rating
50%
Acceptance
1,472
Students
# 597
Ranking
$30,520
Tuition
#24 Best Colleges for Recreational Therapy
University of Southern Maine is a mid-sized public college located in Portland, ME ranked 12thin Maine. It has a total of 8,159 full-time undergraduate students and is not competitive, accepting 80.9% of applicants. University of Southern Maine offers 184 different majors and is best known for its recreational therapy program, which is ranked 24th in America. With a tuition cost of $7,868 for in-state students and $20,692 for those from out-of-state, University of Southern Maine is somewhat moderately costly. 44.22% of students graduate ready to the next stage of their lives, working. After graduation, alumni go on to earn about $38,700 per year, which is 7% under the national median.
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Portland, ME
www.usm.maine.edu
C
Rating
81%
Acceptance
10,606
Students
# 550
Ranking
$20,692
Tuition