ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Athletic Training Associate’s Degree Schools

10 Colleges in the United States
116 Athletic Training Degrees Awarded
$43,779 Avg Early-Career Salary

Athletic Training degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

College Factual analyzed 400 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best athletic training schools.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-professions/athletic-training/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 8
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 51.09), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Exercise Science (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Exercise Science (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Exercise & Sports Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Exercise & Sports Science (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "BS in Health Sciences" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "BS in Health Sciences" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Physical Therapy Assistant (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Physical Therapy Assistant (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "MBA - Sport Management (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "MBA - Sport Management (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Sports Analytics & Management (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Sports Analytics & Management (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Sports Management & Analyics (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Grad Cert - Sports Management & Analyics (I Have a Bachelors)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Sports Management (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Sports Management (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 3
DEBUG: relevant_offers > 0, checking for ESYOH offers
DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 2 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
DEBUG: esyoh_offers count = 2
DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
DEBUG: Found 0 offers with relevance >= 1.0
DEBUG: Backfilling with 0 offers with relevance >= 0.9
DEBUG: Backfilling with 2 offers with relevance >= 0.8

Best Schools for Athletic Training in the United States

See the highest-ranked athletic training schools offering a associate’s degree below.

Top Schools in Athletic Training

1

City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in athletic training. This large public university is located in the city of Chicago. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College awarded about 28 athletic training degrees in the most recent data year. Athletic Training graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earn a median of $63,963 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $12,169 to complete this degree. See the full athletic training program report for City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College

2

Idaho State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best athletic training schools. This large public university is located in the city of Pocatello. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. Idaho State University awarded about 11 athletic training degrees in the most recent data year. Athletic Training graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $62,226 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,985 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in athletic training from Idaho State University

3

A rank of #3 makes The University Of Montana one of the top schools for athletic training. The University Of Montana is a large public school located in the city of Missoula. The University Of Montana graduates 49% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 athletic training students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Montana in the most recent data year. Students who receive their athletic training degree from The University Of Montana earn around $52,370 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete this degree. Read more about the athletic training program at The University Of Montana

4

Northern Michigan University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in athletic training, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Marquette, Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Northern Michigan University awarded about 11 athletic training degrees in the most recent data year. Athletic Training graduates of Northern Michigan University earn a median of $50,855 early in their careers. Northern Michigan University graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. See the full athletic training program report for Northern Michigan University

5

A rank of #5 makes East Mississippi Community College one of the top schools for athletic training. Located in the rural area of Scooba, East Mississippi Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 23 athletic training degrees were awarded at East Mississippi Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from East Mississippi Community College generally make around $34,012. East Mississippi Community College graduates carry a median of $9,422 in student loans. Get the full athletic training details for East Mississippi Community College

6

Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce came in at #6 for athletic training this year. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ponce. About 49% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 16 athletic training students who graduated with this degree at Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce in the most recent data year. Athletic Training graduates of Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce earn a median of $9,908 early in their careers. Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Read more about the athletic training program at Pontifical Catholic University Of Puerto Rico Ponce

7

Wellspring School Of Allied Health Kansas City ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best athletic training schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Wellspring School Of Allied Health Kansas City is a small private for-profit university. There were roughly 14 athletic training students who graduated with this degree at Wellspring School Of Allied Health Kansas City in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, athletic training degree recipients from Wellspring School Of Allied Health Kansas City generally make around $33,120. Students borrow a median of $13,421 to complete this degree. See the full athletic training program report for Wellspring School Of Allied Health Kansas City

Other Athletic Training Degree Levels

Explore the best athletic training schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Athletic Training
Bachelor's Degrees in Athletic Training
Master's Degrees in Athletic Training
ADBLOCK #173
View All Athletic Training Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 400 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options