2027 Best Value Athletic Training Associate’s Degree Schools
[Athletic Training](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/) 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 50 schools to find the best return on investment for athletic training students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in athletic training, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Athletic Training Schools
Mt San Antonio College earned the #1 spot for value among athletic training schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $88,132. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Foothill College earned it the #2 place for athletic training. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, with out-of-state students paying around $12,590. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $107,048 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in athletic training will find it at Santa Rosa Junior College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $80,047. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in athletic training, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $12,169 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College generally make around $63,963. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Arizona College earned it the #5 place for athletic training. Located in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,250, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $11,084 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Modesto Junior College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value athletic training schools. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. Students from in state pay about $1,282 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,264. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $45,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Solano Community College earned the #7 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,172 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the athletic training program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,170 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned the #8 position for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,517, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $22,336. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $65,094. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College landed the #9 spot for athletic training value this year. Grayson College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Denison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,000, while out-of-state students pay about $6,300. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of Grayson College earn a median of $55,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College placed #10 among the best values for athletic training. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Students borrow a median of $16,525 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $65,443. That is a strong return on a $16,525 median debt.
Western Nebraska Community College landed the #11 spot for athletic training value this year. Located in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, while out-of-state students pay about $4,410. Students borrow a median of $14,507 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Western Nebraska Community College earn a median of $62,413 early in their careers. Set against $14,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weber State University placed #12 among the best values for athletic training. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,545. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $47,396. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Holmes Community College placed #13 among the best values for athletic training. Located in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,710, while out-of-state students pay about $6,610. Students borrow a median of $12,125 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $45,804 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #14 position for value in athletic training this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Tyler Junior College landed the #15 spot for athletic training value this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,536. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $16,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $56,686. Set against $16,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Casper College placed #16 among the best values for athletic training. Casper College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Casper. Students from in state pay about $4,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,710 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $13,949. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $56,789. That is a strong return on a $13,949 median debt.
Lakeland Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value athletic training schools. Lakeland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirtland. Students from in state pay about $3,872 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,235. Students borrow a median of $21,388 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $51,941. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chaffey College came in at #18 for value in athletic training this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,184, compared with $11,120 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $6,952. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $23,532. That is a strong return on a $6,952 median debt.
Eastern Arizona College earned the #19 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,352, while out-of-state students pay about $9,552. Students borrow a median of $6,781 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Eastern Arizona College generally make around $40,304. Set against $6,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Barton County Community College landed the #20 spot for athletic training value this year. Located in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,680, while out-of-state students pay about $4,960. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $14,792. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Barton County Community College generally make around $44,536. Set against $14,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mountain Empire Community College placed #21 among the best values for athletic training. Set in the town of Big Stone Gap, Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,007 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,036 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Mountain Empire Community College earn a median of $36,988 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,036 median debt.
Santa Fe Community College placed #22 among the best values for athletic training. Santa Fe Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Santa Fe. In-state tuition and fees average $1,851, while out-of-state students pay about $4,131. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $9,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Santa Fe Community College generally make around $51,935. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Idaho State University landed the #23 spot for athletic training value this year. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $27,985. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $62,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northampton County Area Community College came in at #24 for value in athletic training this year. Set in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $15,270. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $23,417 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $54,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College placed #25 among the best values for athletic training. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $6,326. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $57,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Athletic Training Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s athletic training value ranking:
Other Athletic Training Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Athletic Training rankings across degree levels:
View All Athletic Training Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 50 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.
