Best Master’s in Athletic Training Programs
Interested in making a difference? As an athletic trainer, you are considered a health professional and can work to help people improve their lives. Athletic trainers can diagnose and treat pain or injury.
Along with providing rehabilitation services for injury and pain, athletic trainers can also educate and provide preventative care to clients.
According to the National Athletic Training Association, 70% of athletic trainers hold a master’s degree. Earning a master’s in athletic training degree increases your knowledge in the field and can allow you to specialize in an area of interest.
Featured Online Master’s in Athletic Training Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Master’s in Athletic Training Programs
University of South Florida-Main Campus
Tampa, FL- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,559
- Out-of-state$15,473
- In-State$8,350
- Out-of-state$19,048
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate48%
- Students Enrolled44,246
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
George Washington University
- Washington, DC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$54,453
- Out-of-state$54,453
- In-State$31,770
- Out-of-state$31,770
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate41%
- Students Enrolled27,814
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment22%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$41,698
- Out-of-state$41,698
- In-State$22,896
- Out-of-state$22,896
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate36%
- Students Enrolled4,379
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment4%
- AccreditationYes
Appalachian State University
- Boone, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,242
- Out-of-state$19,049
- In-State$4,839
- Out-of-state$18,271
- Retention Rate88%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled19,280
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment23%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$8,219
- Out-of-state$20,747
- In-State$8,370
- Out-of-state$17,746
- Retention Rate85%
- Acceptance Rate65%
- Students Enrolled46,148
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$7,070
- Out-of-state$24,740
- In-State$11,310
- Out-of-state$23,100
- Retention Rate86%
- Acceptance Rate61%
- Students Enrolled31,923
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment25%
- AccreditationYes
Sacred Heart University
- Fairfield, CT
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$42,800
- Out-of-state$42,800
- In-State$30,427
- Out-of-state$30,427
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate64%
- Students Enrolled9,156
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment34%
- AccreditationYes
The College of Saint Scholastica
- Duluth, MN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$37,622
- Out-of-state$37,622
- In-State$13,986
- Out-of-state$13,986
- Retention Rate81%
- Acceptance Rate76%
- Students Enrolled3,906
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment34%
- AccreditationYes
Montclair State University
- Montclair, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$12,082
- Out-of-state$20,042
- In-State$12,600
- Out-of-state$18,432
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate76%
- Students Enrolled21,007
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment31%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$43,581
- Out-of-state$43,581
- In-State$16,605
- Out-of-state$16,605
- Retention Rate82%
- Acceptance Rate75%
- Students Enrolled2,595
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment9%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
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We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2022. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.
What Can You Expect in an Athletic Training Program?
Depending on the program, you can expect earning a master’s in athletic training to take you 1-3 years to complete. You’ll have to take 30-60 credits. Typically, athletic training programs will include coursework, labs, and hands-on clinical hours. Some programs may require you to complete a capstone project in order to graduate.
Although each program may have its own unique requirements, you should expect to take courses like:
- Anatomy: A foundational course that overviews the human body, including the muscular, skeletal, and nervous systems. You study different parts of the body and how those systems interact.
- Biomechanics and kinesiology: Building on your understanding of human anatomy, biomechanics and kinesiology courses look at how the body moves and how outside forces can impact the moving body.
- Clinical: Hands-on, supervised practice as an athletic trainer. Typically, programs have you cycle between different locations to get a wide variety of experiences.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Athletic Training?
Before committing to a master’s in athletic training, you should carefully review the career opportunities after graduation.
Salaries for master’s graduates in athletic training can vary significantly. Because of this, you should think carefully about how you want to position your career early on to meet income aspirations. Graduates work in many different areas, including personal training, sports, pain management, kinesthetics, and athletics.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (May 2023) |
|---|---|
| Athletic Trainer | $57,930 |
| Exercise Physiologist | $54,860 |
| Coach or Scout | $45,910 |
| Recreational Therapist | $57,120 |
| Health Education Specialist | $62,860 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Athletic Training Programs
There is a push to require all future athletic trainers to hold a master’s in athletic training. In the future, if you want to pursue a career in athletic training, you will need a master’s degree. Typically, those who hold a master’s degree earn a higher salary than those who only hold a bachelor’s degree.
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