Athletic Training: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared for a dynamic career at the intersection of healthcare and sports performance, this program equips students with the clinical expertise to support athletes and physically active individuals in preventing, managing, and rehabilitating injuries. Grounded in evidence-based practice, the curriculum emphasizes hands-on application, critical decision-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration under medical supervision.
- Anatomy and physiology: In-depth study of human body systems, focusing on structural and functional relationships essential for understanding injury mechanisms and recovery processes.
- Exercise physiology: Exploration of how physical activity affects bodily systems, including metabolic responses, cardiovascular adaptations, and performance optimization.
- Kinesiology and biomechanics: Analysis of human movement, joint mechanics, and forces acting on the body during athletic performance and injury.
- Therapeutic exercise: Development of customized rehabilitation programs to restore strength, flexibility, and functional movement after injury.
- Emergency care and first aid: Training in immediate response protocols for acute injuries, including spinal immobilization, concussion management, and life-threatening emergencies.
- Identification and evaluation of injuries: Mastery of clinical assessment techniques to diagnose musculoskeletal conditions and determine appropriate treatment pathways.
- Nutrition for athletic performance: Application of dietary principles to support recovery, enhance performance, and maintain overall health in active populations.
- Sports psychology: Understanding the mental and emotional factors influencing athletic performance, injury recovery, and adherence to rehabilitation plans.
- Personal and community health: Focus on preventive strategies, health promotion, and public health initiatives relevant to physically active populations.
- Sports-specific demands: Comprehensive knowledge of the physiological and biomechanical requirements across a range of athletic activities and competitive environments.
- Professional standards and regulations: Familiarization with ethical guidelines, legal responsibilities, and industry-specific protocols governing athletic training practice.
Athletic Training Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Athletic Training Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Athletic Training degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary and Athletic Trainers. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 258,670 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Athletic Trainers 29-9091 | $60,250 | $45,380 - $84,100 | 28,950 | N/A |
Athletic Training Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $59,510 in Hawaii to $118,410 in District of Columbia—a 99% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Arkansas, and Utah. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 258,670 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Athletic Training by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Athletic Training programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Athletic Training is found at A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) (70 graduates), Rio Salado College (60 graduates), East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) (56 graduates), West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) (55 graduates), and Florida State University (FSU) (54 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,042 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
70 | Kirksville, Missouri | Private | atsu.edu |
| Rio Salado College |
Other Award
|
60 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | rio.maricopa.edu |
| East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
56 | East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | esu.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
55 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
54 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Master's
|
46 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
41 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (CUW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
37 | Mequon, Wisconsin | Private | cuw.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
36 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Master's
|
35 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| SUNY College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Plattsburgh, New York | Public | plattsburgh.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Public | uprp.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
32 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
29 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
29 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) |
Master's
|
29 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttuhsc.edu |
| Quinnipiac University (QU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Hamden, Connecticut | Private | qu.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago (MXC) |
Other Award
|
28 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Master's
|
28 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| Temple University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
27 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRM) |
Bachelor's
|
26 | Mayaguez, Puerto Rico | Public | uprm.edu |
| Advanced Training Institute (ATI) |
Other Award
|
26 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | atitraining.edu |
| East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Scooba, Mississippi | Public | eastms.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
23 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Marshall University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
22 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| Tiffin University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Tiffin, Ohio | Private | tiffin.edu |
| University of New England (UNE) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Biddeford, Maine | Private | une.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
|
20 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Master's
|
19 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
19 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| Aurora University |
Master's
|
19 | Aurora, Illinois | Private | aurora.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Master's
|
18 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Master's
|
18 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Master's
|
17 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| James Madison University (JMU) |
Master's
|
17 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Public | jmu.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Master's
|
16 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
|
16 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) |
Associate's
|
16 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | Private | pucpr.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Master's
|
15 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| University of Indianapolis (UIndy) |
Master's
|
15 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | uindy.edu |
| Midland University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Fremont, Nebraska | Private | midlandu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Master's
|
15 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Master's
|
15 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Master's
|
15 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
|
15 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Master's
|
15 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| Northland Pioneer College (NPC) |
Other Award
|
14 | Holbrook, Arizona | Public | npc.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
|
14 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Master's
|
14 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Master's
|
14 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Master's
|
14 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Master's
|
14 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Master's
|
14 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Tarleton State University (TSU) |
Master's
|
14 | Stephenville, Texas | Public | tarleton.edu |
| University of Lynchburg |
Master's
|
14 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | lynchburg.edu |
| WellSpring School of Allied Health |
Associate's
|
14 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | wellspring.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Master's
|
13 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) |
Master's
|
13 | San Diego, California | Private | pointloma.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| Towson University (TU) |
Master's
|
13 | Towson, Maryland | Public | towson.edu |
| The University of Montana (UM) |
Master's
|
13 | Missoula, Montana | Public | umt.edu |
| Plymouth State University (PSU) |
Master's
|
13 | Plymouth, New Hampshire | Public | plymouth.edu |
| Xavier University (XU) |
Master's
|
13 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Private | xavier.edu |
| Erskine College |
Bachelor's
|
13 | Due West, South Carolina | Private | erskine.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Master's
|
13 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| California Baptist University (CBU) |
Master's
|
12 | Riverside, California | Private | calbaptist.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Master's
|
12 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
12 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| Drake University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| University of Saint Mary (USM) |
Master's
|
12 | Leavenworth, Kansas | Private | stmary.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Master's
|
12 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Master's
|
12 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Master's
|
12 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) |
Master's
|
12 | Wilmington, North Carolina | Public | uncw.edu |
| The University of Tennessee (UTC) |
Master's
|
12 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Public | utc.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Master's
|
12 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) |
Master's
|
12 | Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Public | uwsp.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Master's
|
11 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Georgia Southern University |
Master's
|
11 | Statesboro, Georgia | Public | georgiasouthern.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Master's
|
11 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Master's
|
11 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Other Award
|
11 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Sterling College (SC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Sterling, Kansas | Private | sterling.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
11 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Northern Michigan University (NMU) |
Master's
|
11 | Marquette, Michigan | Public | nmu.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Master's
|
11 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| Thomas Jefferson University |
Master's
|
11 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | jefferson.edu |
| Baylor University |
Master's
|
11 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| Texas Christian University (TCU) |
Master's
|
11 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | tcu.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Master's
|
11 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Master's
|
11 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) |
Master's
|
11 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | Public | commonwealthu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Athletic Training programs
How much can I earn with a Athletic Training degree?
Salaries for Athletic Training graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Athletic Trainers earn around $60,250. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $118,410 compared to $59,510 in Hawaii. Approximately 258,670 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Athletic Training programs?
Currently 309 accredited institutions offer Athletic Training degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include A T Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) (70 graduates), Rio Salado College (60 graduates), and East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) (56 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Athletic Training growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 3,767 in 2010 to a peak of 4,468 in 2020, before declining slightly to 3,132 in 2023-24. This represents a 17% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Athletic Training degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Athletic Trainers, . Related occupations employ approximately 258,670 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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