2027 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in Virginia
[Athletic Training](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for athletic training students.
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2027 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in Virginia
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 Mountain Empire Community College the best value for a degree in athletic training in Virginia. Set in the town of Big Stone Gap, Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $9,036 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Mountain Empire Community College generally make around $36,988. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Radford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in athletic training, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $83,490. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Old Dominion University one of the best values for athletic training. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $57,131. That is a strong return on a $26,001 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
George Mason University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value athletic training schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $28,092. Athletic Training graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $38,622 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value athletic training schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Lynchburg College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value athletic training schools. Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,750. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Lynchburg College generally make around $138,322. Lynchburg College admits about 43% of applicants.
James Madison University earned the #7 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $21,218. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $120,817. That is a strong return on a $21,218 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #8 position for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $26,992 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $57,000. Set against $26,992 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Liberty University placed #9 among the best values for athletic training. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $45,877. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Shenandoah University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value athletic training schools. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,950. Students borrow a median of $26,005 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $100,464. That is a strong return on a $26,005 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
