2026 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in the The Plains States 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 56 schools to find the best return on investment for athletic training students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Athletic Training Schools in the The Plains States 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
For return on investment in athletic training, no school beat Western Nebraska Community College this year. Located in the town of Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $4,410 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $14,507. Athletic Training graduates of Western Nebraska Community College earn a median of $62,413 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in athletic training will find it at Northeast Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $11,000. Athletic Training graduates of Northeast Community College earn a median of $40,568 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,326. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College generally make around $57,464. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Barton County Community College one of the best values for athletic training. Set in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,680 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $4,960. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $14,792. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $44,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wichita State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $116,584. That is a strong return on a $24,262 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Fort Hays State University earned the #6 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, compared with $17,741 for out-of-state students. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $25,288 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $49,775 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fort Hays State University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #7 spot for athletic training value this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,718, with out-of-state students paying around $23,206. Students borrow a median of $21,783 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $42,209 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Northern Iowa earned the #8 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $46,054. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Lake Superior College landed the #9 spot for athletic training value this year. Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $53,192. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Kansas landed the #10 spot for athletic training value this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,847 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $43,930. Set against $25,847 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #11 position for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $28,039 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $55,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,039 median debt. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Butler Community College placed #12 among the best values for athletic training. Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of El Dorado. Students from in state pay about $3,541 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,271 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $16,670. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $39,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Concordia University Saint Paul placed #13 among the best values for athletic training. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,600. Students borrow a median of $29,026 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $54,835. Set against $29,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concordia University Saint Paul admits about 79% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $99,606. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University came in at #15 for value in athletic training this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $51,543. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
Winona State University landed the #16 spot for athletic training value this year. Located in the town of Winona, Winona State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,576 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $24,551. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $53,109. That is a strong return on a $24,551 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Wellspring School Of Allied Health Kansas City landed the #17 spot for athletic training value this year. Wellspring School Of Allied Health Kansas City is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Students borrow a median of $13,421 to complete the athletic training program here. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $33,120. That is a strong return on a $13,421 median debt.
Iowa State University landed the #18 spot for athletic training value this year. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $53,900 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary placed #19 among the best values for athletic training. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,356. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of University Of Mary earn a median of $55,153 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Mary admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value athletic training schools. Set in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, while out-of-state students pay about $15,570. Students borrow a median of $25,110 to complete the athletic training program here. Athletic Training graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $120,179 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #21 position for value in athletic training this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $25,260. Early-career athletic training graduates make about $53,088. That is a strong return on a $25,260 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Southwest Baptist University earned the #22 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,566. Typical student debt for athletic training graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Southwest Baptist University generally make around $49,135. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southwest Baptist University admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Saint Mary came in at #23 for value in athletic training this year. Located in the town of Leavenworth, University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,380. Students borrow a median of $27,810 to complete the athletic training program here. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from University Of Saint Mary generally make around $52,152. Set against $27,810 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Saint Mary admits about 87% of applicants.
The College Of Saint Scholastica earned the #24 position for value in athletic training this year. Located in the city of Duluth, The College Of Saint Scholastica is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,778. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $26,755 in student loans. Athletic Training graduates of The College Of Saint Scholastica earn a median of $88,873 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,755 median debt. The College Of Saint Scholastica admits about 93% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #25 spot for athletic training value this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $55,760. Athletic Training graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $83,825. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 56 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.
