2026 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in California
[Athletic Training](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. 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 32 schools to find the best return on investment for athletic training students.
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2026 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in California
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 California. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Mt San Antonio College earn a median of $88,132 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in athletic training will find it at College Of The Canyons, which ranked #2. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in athletic training will find it at College Of The Sequoias, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $10,288. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Set against $10,288 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 #4. Located in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,318, compared with $11,308 for out-of-state students. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $15,250 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Fullerton earned it the #5 place for athletic training. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. 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. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
Allan Hancock College earned the #6 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,892. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,786 ten years after entry.
Foothill College placed #7 among the best values for athletic training. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. Students from in state pay about $1,565 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,590. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $107,048. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chaffey College earned the #8 position for value in athletic training this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,184, while out-of-state students pay about $11,120. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $23,532. Set against $6,952 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Northridge ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. 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, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $20,250. Athletic Training graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $100,724 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
California State University Long Beach landed the #10 spot for athletic training value this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $24,375 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $50,982. That is a strong return on a $24,375 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Modesto Junior College came in at #11 for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. 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. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $36,525. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cabrillo College landed the #12 spot for athletic training value this year. Located in the suburb of Aptos, Cabrillo College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,270, while out-of-state students pay about $9,862. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $47,750. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ohlone Community College landed the #13 spot for athletic training value this year. Ohlone Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fremont. Students from in state pay about $1,202 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,714 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $22,545. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of The Pacific placed #14 among the best values for athletic training. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,080. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $23,514. 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. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
California Baptist University placed #15 among the best values for athletic training. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,228. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $28,169. Athletic Training graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $95,454 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,169 median debt. California Baptist University admits about 85% of applicants.
Point Loma Nazarene University came in at #16 for value in athletic training this year. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. In-state tuition and fees average $46,250. Students borrow a median of $26,362 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $29,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Point Loma Nazarene University admits about 84% of applicants.
More Athletic Training Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
