2023 Most Focused Colleges for Outdoor Education
39
Ranked Colleges
$25,700
Avg Cost*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2021-2022, 313 people earned their degree in outdoor education, making the major the 313th most popular in the United States. In , outdoor education graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $27,786 and had an average of $0 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major” ranking, we looked at 39 colleges that offer a degree in outdoor education. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in outdoor education.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Outdoor Education
Out of the 39 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Sterling College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Craftsbury Common, Vermont, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified ’s outdoor ed students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Sterling College Outdoor Education Report
Out of the 39 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Brevard College landed the #2 spot on the list. Brevard, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s outdoor ed degrees to 11 students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at Brevard College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Prescott College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major. Prescott College is a small school located in Prescott, Arizona that handed out 34 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at Prescot College
Out of the 39 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Young Harris College landed the #5 spot on the list. Young Harris, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s outdoor ed degrees to 11 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at Young Harris College
Montreat College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking. Montreat College is a small school located in Montreat, North Carolina that handed out 3 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at Montreat College
Toccoa Falls College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking. Toccoa Falls, Georgia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s outdoor ed degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at Toccoa Falls College
Alaska Pacific University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major list. Alaska Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Anchorage, Alaska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Outdoor Education at Alaska Pacific University
Northern Vermont University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major list. Northern Vermont University is a small school located in Johnson, Vermont that handed out 12 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at Northern Vermont University
Northland College landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking. Northland is located in Ashland, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s outdoor ed degrees to qualified students.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Outdoor Education at Northland College
Unity College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking. New Gloucester, Maine is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s outdoor ed degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Unity Outdoor Education Report
Fort Lewis College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major list. Located in Durango, Colorado, this small public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified ’s outdoor ed students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Outdoor Education at FLC
Greenfield Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major list. Greenfield, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s outdoor ed degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Greenfield Community College Outdoor Education Report
Black Hills State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking. Located in Spearfish, South Dakota, this small public school handed out 14 degrees to qualified ’s outdoor ed students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Black Hills State University Outdoor Education Report
With a ranking of #15, John Brown University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major list. John Brown University is a small school located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas that handed out 3 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Outdoor Education at John Brown University
Westminster College Utah came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking. Salt Lake City, Utah is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s outdoor ed degrees to 5 students in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at Westminster College Utah
With a ranking of #17, Adirondack Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major list. Adirondack Community College is a small school located in Queensbury, New York that handed out 4 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Outdoor Education at SUNY Adirondack
Plymouth State University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major list. Plymouth State University is a small school located in Plymouth, New Hampshire that handed out 8 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at Plymouth State
Southwestern Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking, coming in at #19. Southwestern Community College is a small school located in Sylva, North Carolina that handed out 24 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Outdoor Education at Southwestern Community College
Asbury University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking, coming in at #20. Wilmore, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s outdoor ed degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Outdoor Education at Asbury University
Colorado Christian University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking. CCU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Lakewood, Colorado. It awarded 7 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Outdoor Education at Colorado Christian University
With a ranking of #22, SUNY Cortland did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major list. SUNY Cortland is located in Cortland, New York and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 7 ’s outdoor ed degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Outdoor Education at SUNY Cortland
New England College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking. New England College is a small school located in Henniker, New Hampshire that handed out 2 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full NEC Outdoor Education Report
With a ranking of #24, Northwest Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major list. This small school is located in Nampa, Idaho, and it awarded 1 ’s outdoor ed degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at NNU
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Outdoor Ed Major ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, this fairly large public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified ’s outdoor ed students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Outdoor Education at Central Michigan
