Best Master’s in Athletic Training Programs

A master’s in athletic training can take 1-3 years to complete. Explore and compare the best master’s in athletic training degree programs.
Whitney Sandoval
By
Edited by
Updated July 29, 2024
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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.

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Best Master’s in Athletic Training Programs

#1

University of South Florida-Main Campus

Tampa, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$8,350

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$19,048

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

48%

Acceptance Rate

55%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,559

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,473

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

44,246

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,350

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,048

Tampa, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,350

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,048

Acceptance Rate

48%

Online Enrollment

55%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,559

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,473

Retention Rate

91%

Students Enrolled

44,246

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#2

George Washington University

Washington, DC4 yearCampus + Online

$31,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$31,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

41%

Acceptance Rate

22%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,453

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,453

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

27,814

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$31,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$31,770

Washington, DC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$31,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$31,770

Acceptance Rate

41%

Online Enrollment

22%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$54,453

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$54,453

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

27,814

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#3

University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK4 yearCampus + Online

$22,896

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,896

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

36%

Acceptance Rate

4%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$41,698

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$41,698

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

4,379

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,896

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,896

Tulsa, OK4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$22,896

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,896

Acceptance Rate

36%

Online Enrollment

4%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$41,698

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$41,698

Retention Rate

87%

Students Enrolled

4,379

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#4

Appalachian State University

Boone, NC4 yearCampus + Online

$4,839

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,271

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

77%

Acceptance Rate

23%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,242

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,049

Retention Rate

88%

Students Enrolled

19,280

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,839

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,271

Boone, NC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,839

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,271

Acceptance Rate

77%

Online Enrollment

23%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,242

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,049

Retention Rate

88%

Students Enrolled

19,280

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#5

University of Houston

Houston, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$8,370

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$17,746

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

65%

Acceptance Rate

43%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,219

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,747

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

46,148

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,370

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,746

Houston, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,370

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,746

Acceptance Rate

65%

Online Enrollment

43%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$8,219

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,747

Retention Rate

85%

Students Enrolled

46,148

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#6

University at Buffalo

Buffalo, NY4 yearCampus + Online

$11,310

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$23,100

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

61%

Acceptance Rate

25%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,070

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,740

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

31,923

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,310

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,100

Buffalo, NY4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,310

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$23,100

Acceptance Rate

61%

Online Enrollment

25%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,070

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$24,740

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

31,923

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#7

Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT4 yearCampus + Online

$30,427

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$30,427

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

64%

Acceptance Rate

34%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$42,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$42,800

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

9,156

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$30,427

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,427

Fairfield, CT4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$30,427

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$30,427

Acceptance Rate

64%

Online Enrollment

34%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$42,800

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$42,800

Retention Rate

83%

Students Enrolled

9,156

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#8

The College of Saint Scholastica

Duluth, MN4 yearCampus + Online

$13,986

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,986

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

76%

Acceptance Rate

34%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$37,622

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,622

Retention Rate

81%

Students Enrolled

3,906

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,986

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,986

Duluth, MN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,986

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,986

Acceptance Rate

76%

Online Enrollment

34%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$37,622

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,622

Retention Rate

81%

Students Enrolled

3,906

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#9

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ4 yearCampus + Online

$12,600

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,432

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

76%

Acceptance Rate

31%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,082

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,042

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

21,007

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,600

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,432

Montclair, NJ4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$12,600

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,432

Acceptance Rate

76%

Online Enrollment

31%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$12,082

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,042

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

21,007

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Moravian College

Bethlehem, PA4 yearCampus + Online

$16,605

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,605

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

75%

Acceptance Rate

9%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$43,581

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$43,581

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

2,595

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,605

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,605

Bethlehem, PA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$16,605

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,605

Acceptance Rate

75%

Online Enrollment

9%

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$43,581

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$43,581

Retention Rate

82%

Students Enrolled

2,595

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

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.

Popular Careers in Athletic Training
JobMedian 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
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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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