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Athletic Training Degree in Lincoln, NE — Salary & ROI 2026

Athletic Training degree analysis for Lincoln, NE. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$44K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$60K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

5.5 yrs

in Lincoln

Cost of Living

85

index (100 = avg)

Athletic Training in Lincoln, NE Overview

Lincoln, Nebraska (pop. 291,082) has 9 colleges offering Athletic Training programs. The local cost of living index of 85 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $867/month. Athletic Training has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation skills. The adjusted starting salary in Lincoln is approximately $44,200.

Category

Health

Local Colleges

9

Public Tuition

$9,242/yr

Private Tuition

$36,730/yr

Room & Board

$10,611/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$13,317/yr

Unemployment

5.9%

Graduation Rate

57%

Athletic Training Salary in Lincoln (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Lincoln's cost of living index of 85 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$44,200($-7,800 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$59,500($-10,500 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$74,800($-13,200 vs national)

Note: National average Athletic Training salary: $52,000 starting, $70,000 mid-career, $88,000 senior level.Lincoln adjustment factor: 0.85x based on the local cost of living index.

Athletic Training ROI Calculator for Lincoln

Estimate your return on investment for a Athletic Training degree using local Lincoln tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $9,242 | Private avg: $36,730

Lincoln avg aid: $13,317/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$79,412

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$14,450

vs HS diploma in Lincoln

ROI Payback Period

5.5 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Lincoln

$345,588

Lifetime earnings premium ($425,000) minus total education cost ($79,412)

Student Loan Payoff for Athletic Training in Lincoln

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$79,412
Monthly Payment$902
Total Interest$28,793
% of Monthly Income24%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$79,412
Monthly Payment$1,554
Total Interest$13,815
Interest Savings$14,978

Colleges in Lincoln for Athletic Training

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

public

$9,242/yr

$36,968 total

Nebraska Wesleyan University

private

$36,730/yr

$146,920 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Southeast Community College

$3,540/yr

Top Employers for Athletic Training in Lincoln

Lincoln offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Athletic Training graduates. National top employers in this field include:

NFL teamsHospital systemsUniversitiesSports clinics

Key Lincoln Hiring Sectors for Health

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Athletic Training Job Titles

Athletic TrainerRehabilitation SpecialistSports Medicine

Athletic Training Degree in Lincoln — 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.

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Compare Athletic Training ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Lincoln.

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