2027 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in Illinois
[Athletic Training](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for athletic training students.
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2027 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the athletic training degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Athletic Training Schools
Our analysis ranked City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College the best value for a degree in athletic training in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $12,924. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $46,222. That is a strong return on a $12,924 median debt.
Harper College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value athletic training schools. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $13,842 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $64,778. Set against $13,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Southern Illinois University Carbondale one of the best values for athletic training. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Students borrow a median of $20,985 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $46,566. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in athletic training will find it at Lewis University, which ranked #4. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $55,718. Set against $24,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Aurora University one of the best values for athletic training. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $24,507 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $51,483. That is a strong return on a $24,507 median debt. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
North Central College came in at #6 for value in athletic training this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,726. Students borrow a median of $25,699 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $46,247. That is a strong return on a $25,699 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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.
