2026 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in the Far Western Region
[Athletic Training](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong athletic training education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 41 schools to find the best return on investment for athletic training students.
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2026 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in the Far Western Region
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
Mt San Antonio College tops our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt San Antonio College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $88,132. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes College Of The Canyons one of the best values for athletic training. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, with out-of-state students paying around $10,958. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $9,776. Athletic Training graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of The Sequoias earned it the #3 place for athletic training. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, while out-of-state students pay about $9,038. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $10,288. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Rosa Junior College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in athletic training, landing the #4 spot this year. Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Rosa. In-state tuition and fees average $1,318, with out-of-state students paying around $11,308. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Fullerton earned it the #5 place for athletic training. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $15,525. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Allan Hancock College placed #6 among the best values for athletic training. Allan Hancock College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Maria. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, with out-of-state students paying around $9,892. Median earnings reach $42,786 ten years out.
Foothill College came in at #7 for value in athletic training this year. 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, compared with $12,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $107,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Northridge placed #8 among the best values for athletic training. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $100,724. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Long Beach placed #9 among the best values for athletic training. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $24,375. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $50,982. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Chaffey College landed the #10 spot for athletic training value this year. Chaffey College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga. In-state tuition and fees average $1,184, while out-of-state students pay about $11,120. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $6,952. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $23,532. Set against $6,952 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $62,134. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Modesto Junior College placed #12 among the best values for athletic training. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,282, with out-of-state students paying around $9,264. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $36,525 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,575 median debt.
Cabrillo College came in at #13 for value in athletic training this year. Set in the suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,270, while out-of-state students pay about $9,862. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $10,425. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Cabrillo College generally make around $47,750. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ohlone Community College landed the #14 spot for athletic training value this year. Located in the city of Fremont, Ohlone Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,202, with out-of-state students paying around $8,714. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $22,545. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washington State University earned the #15 position for value in athletic training this year. Set in the town of Pullman, Washington State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,391 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,903 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $54,697 early in their careers. Set against $21,903 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Oregon State University earned the #16 position for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Students borrow a median of $24,043 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $51,000. That is a strong return on a $24,043 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Pacific came in at #17 for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,080. Students borrow a median of $23,514 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $141,691. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
California Baptist University earned the #18 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,228. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $28,169. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from California Baptist University generally make around $95,454. Set against $28,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Baptist University admits about 85% of applicants.
Pacific University earned the #19 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,374. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $26,170. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Pacific University generally make around $117,165. Set against $26,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Point Loma Nazarene University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. Located in the city of San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,250. Students borrow a median of $26,362 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Point Loma Nazarene University generally make around $29,523. That is a strong return on a $26,362 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
