Why Choose a Masters in Athletic Training?
A Masters in Athletic Training prepares students to work in the field of athletic training. Students can expect to work in a variety of locations such as hospitals, the military, with law enforcement, or in orthopedic surgeons’ offices. Athletic trainers specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing bone and muscle injuries and illnesses.
Choosing a Masters in Athletic Training
A Masters in Athletic Training takes approximately two years to complete and usually has internships as well as clinical rotations. The median pay, as of 2019, is $48,440 each year with excellent employment opportunities. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics believes that this field will see an increase in jobs of around 16% from 2019 to 2029.
Top 5 Masters in Athletic Training Programs
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Life University | Marietta, Georgia |
| 2 | Stephen F. Austin State University | Nacogdoches, Texas |
| 3 | Fort Hays State University | Hays, Kansas |
| 4 | University of Nebraska | Lincoln, Nebraska |
| 5 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia |
In this article, we will discuss the top 14 schools for a master’s in athletic training. Each of these is different, so we have ranked them based on overall tuition costs and enrollment.
The Best 14 Schools for a Masters in Athletic Training
Life University
Life University offers a Master of Athletic Training that was previously accredited but is not under review. The students starting in this program now will not qualify for the BOC examination, but the curriculum is being updated to meet the CAATE standards in 2020. A new start date is going to be released, and the program will be available in the future. The curriculum includes 84 credit hours overall.
School Overview
Stephen F. Austin State University
At Stephen F. Austin State University, students can get the MS in Athletic Training. The program is highly competitive and requires students to maintain a 3.0 while enrolled. Students also have to maintain student athletic training liability insurance to remain in the program. The course is made up of 60 credit hours.
School Overview
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University offers a Master of Science in Athletic Training. This program is pending accreditation, but it’s expected to receive in March 2021. The program prepares students to take the BOC Role Delineation Student and may obtain licensure through the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts.
School Overview
University of Nebraska
The University of Nebraska offers a Master of Athletic Training. This is a two-year program available for those who want a traditional post-baccalaureate degree. The program consists of 41 credit hours and takes place on campus.
School Overview
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University offers a two-year post-certification Master of Science, Kinesiology, and Athletic Training. Students must select from core curriculums in Clinical Instruction or in Clinical Foundations.
School Overview
Montana State University in Billings
Located in Billings, Montana State University offers a Master of Science in Athletic Training. The program prepares students to become athletic training professionals and for the Board of Certification Examination. This is a two-year program.
School Overview
Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University offers an Athletic Training Graduate Program as an MS. There are professional and post-professional options in terms of degree tracks. Those within CAATE accredited program training should take the professional track. This prepares students for the BOC examination and is a two-year course.
School Overview
California University of Pennsylvania
The California University of Pennsylvania offers a master’s degree in athletic training that focuses on knowledge and clinical skills. The program is hands-on and prepares students for the BOC examination. Courses for the second semester’s fall and summer enrollees are taken online.
School Overview
Indiana State University
Indiana State University offers a Professional Master of Science in Athletic Training. The program can be completed in two years and blends in-person and online education. The first year of the program focuses on in-person coursework and clinical experiences. The second year is largely online and focuses on clinical education, with 24 weeks of immersive clinical experiences.
School Overview
Brigham Young University
At Brigham Young University, students can get an MS in Exercise Sciences or a Master of Athletic Training. The Master of Athletic Training includes an eight-week immersive internship and clinical education assignments.
School Overview
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University offers a Master of Science in Athletic Training. This program is career-oriented and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education. Clinical rotations start the first semester in this program.
School Overview
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University offers a Master of Science in Athletic Training that consists of 58 credit hours. The program requires students to complete clinical education during their full 2 years in the program. The first year of the program is in-person, while the second-year curriculum is online, which allows students to be placed clinically anywhere in the country to meet their future employment goals. Our exceptional faculty are fully dedicated to the professional development of all students in our program on both of our campus locations – the Flagstaff Mountain Campus and the Phoenix Biomedical Campus.
School Overview
University of Tennessee
In Chattanooga, the University of Tennessee offers an M.S. in Athletic Training. The program consists of 60 hours of coursework in classes such as athletic training, cadaver anatomy, therapeutic modalities, and professional aspects in athletic training.
School Overview
The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University offers a Master of Athletic Training, which will be replacing the BSAT program offered by the school in 2023. The new program only accepts 30 students annually, which makes it highly competitive.
School Overview
Ranking Specifications
The rankings in this article were determined by assigning point values to each school’s enrollment and tuition rates. Higher tuition rates and higher enrollment were given few points. Those point values were then added together to get an overall score. The schools here are ranked from those with the most points (the best) to those with the fewest (the worst) and are only ranked against each other. Keep in mind that these pieces of data do change, and the list here is not guaranteed.
If you would like to know more about your school’s ranking or to have any data updated, we’d be happy to speak with you and help. If your school is not listed and you’d like it to be, please contact us with information about your program.
