by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, athletic training was the 187th most popular major nationwide with 3,767 degrees awarded. This represents a 18.6% reduction in athletic trainer degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 4,467.
This year's Best Athletic Training Schools ranking compares 286 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom athletic trainer rankings further below.
When studying Athletic Trainer, you’ll learn that monitoring/assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
athletic training degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional athletic trainer certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Athletic Trainer degree levels vary. Athletic Training programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest athletic trainer degree you can get. Different athletic training degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to athletic trainer, with approximately 71.7% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for athletic trainer workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 70.1% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 23.9% |
| First Professional Degree | 3.7% |
About 75.5% of workers in careers related to athletic trainer obtain at least master's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in athletic training careers have.
This of course varies depending on which athletic trainer career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your athletic trainer degree? Athletic Training careers are expected to grow 22.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to athletic training.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Athletic Trainers | 34,100 | 22.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for athletic trainer graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for athletic training graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers athletic trainer grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Athletic Trainers | $49,280 |
With over 571 different athletic trainer degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased athletic trainer school rankings to help you with this.
Athletic Training is one of 21 different types of Allied Health Professions programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic) | 26,641 |
| Physician Assistant | 11,351 |
| Radiologic Technology | 9,790 |
| Surgical Technology | 7,583 |
| Respiratory Care Therapy | 6,845 |
