Athletic Training Degree in Garden Grove, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Athletic Training degree analysis for Garden Grove, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$78K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$105K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Garden Grove
Cost of Living
150.3
index (100 = avg)
Athletic Training in Garden Grove, CA Overview
Garden Grove, California (pop. 172,646) has 7 colleges offering Athletic Training programs. The local cost of living index of 150.3 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $2,160/month. Athletic Training has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation skills. The adjusted starting salary in Garden Grove is approximately $78,156.
Category
Health
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,500/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$17,153/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,754/yr
Unemployment
5.3%
Graduation Rate
66%
Athletic Training Salary in Garden Grove (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Garden Grove's cost of living index of 150.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Athletic Training salary: $52,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Garden Grove adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Athletic Training ROI Calculator for Garden Grove
Estimate your return on investment for a Athletic Training degree using local Garden Grove tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,500 | Private avg: $42,000
Garden Grove avg aid: $9,754/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,612
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,551
vs HS diploma in Garden Grove
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Garden Grove
$624,888
Lifetime earnings premium ($751,500) minus total education cost ($126,612)
Student Loan Payoff for Athletic Training in Garden Grove
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Garden Grove for Athletic Training
Garden Grove State University
public
$13,746/yr
$54,984 total
University of Garden Grove
public
$14,677/yr
$58,708 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Garden Grove Community College
$6,550/yr
Top Employers for Athletic Training in Garden Grove
Garden Grove offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Athletic Training graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Garden Grove Hiring Sectors for Health
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Athletic Training Job Titles
Athletic Training in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$73K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$73K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$67K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$59K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$61K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$58K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$60K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$69K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Athletic Training Degree in Garden Grove — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Athletic Training ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Garden Grove.