2026 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in the Southwest Region
[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 46 schools to find the best return on investment for athletic training students.
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2026 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in athletic training, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Athletic Training Schools
Central Arizona College earned the #1 spot for value among athletic training schools in the Southwest Region. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. Students from in state pay about $2,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Students borrow a median of $11,084 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,084 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Grayson College one of the best values for athletic training. Set in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. That is a strong return on a $10,250 median debt.
Yavapai College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in athletic training, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,948, compared with $9,486 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $52,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Rio Salado College one of the best values for athletic training. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,958. Students borrow a median of $13,679 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. Set against $13,679 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Fe Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. Santa Fe Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Santa Fe. Students from in state pay about $1,851 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,131. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $9,813. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $51,935. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midwestern State University earned the #6 position for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,950, while out-of-state students pay about $11,770. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of Midwestern State University earn a median of $67,953 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Tyler Junior College came in at #7 for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,424, while out-of-state students pay about $4,536. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $16,844. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Arizona College came in at #8 for value in athletic training this year. Set in the town of Thatcher, Eastern Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,352 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,552. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $6,781. Athletic Training graduates of Eastern Arizona College earn a median of $40,304 early in their careers. Set against $6,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northland Pioneer College landed the #9 spot for athletic training value this year. Northland Pioneer College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Holbrook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,232, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $8,680. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Northland Pioneer College generally make around $44,117. That is a strong return on a $8,680 median debt.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University earned the #10 position for value in athletic training this year. Set in the town of Weatherford, Southwestern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,469, compared with $8,499 for out-of-state students. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $20,795 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Southwestern Oklahoma State University generally make around $57,280. Set against $20,795 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Arizona University placed #11 among the best values for athletic training. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $105,814. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Houston came in at #12 for value in athletic training this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $58,469. That is a strong return on a $21,255 median debt. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #13 for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $62,783. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #14 among the best values for athletic training. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $25,625 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Tarleton State University came in at #15 for value in athletic training this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,302, compared with $18,142 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $23,222. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $56,785. Set against $23,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Tarleton State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #16 spot for athletic training value this year. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $41,578. That is a strong return on a $20,031 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Hardin Simmons University came in at #17 for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Abilene, Hardin Simmons University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,960 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $26,674. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Hardin Simmons University generally make around $113,805. That is a strong return on a $26,674 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $38,079. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Christian University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Texas Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,740. Students borrow a median of $22,960 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $60,035. That is a strong return on a $22,960 median debt. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University came in at #20 for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $58,100 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Baylor University generally make around $49,888. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 51% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
