Master of Science [MSc] (Athletic Training)
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$8,548 /Yr
San Diego State University Master of Science in Athletic Training is a two-year, full-time, on-campus graduate programme in San Diego that begins in Summer Session I. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree, GPA 3.0 on 4.0 (B grade or about 80%), required prerequisites and 100 observation hours. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 annual tuition was US$22,050 (INR 20.94 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.
The 63-unit curriculum has Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accreditation and integrates diagnostics, intervention, evidence-based practice and clinical immersion. It best fits applicants who want Board of Certification eligibility and can sustain a demanding clinical schedule across academic terms and summers.
- Graduation makes students eligible to apply for the Board of Certification examination.
- More than 30 clinical sites support experience across educational, professional, military and non-traditional settings.
- The programme reports a 97% certification-exam pass rate and 100% employment, although its current page does not identify the measured cohorts.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are Open. International student deadline: 01 November 2026.
Indian applicants must complete ATCAS (Athletic Training Centralized Application Service) by 01 November, Cal State Apply by 01 December and documents by 15 December 2026. SDSU publishes no portal cutoff timezone, so retain confirmation for every submitted component.
Also Check: San Diego State University Athletic Training Admission
SDSU MS Athletic Training Fees and Living Costs 2027
Fall 2027 international tuition is unpublished, so the 2026-27 figures below are prior-cycle planning references rather than a confirmed target bill. The clinical schedule spans summers, making living exposure longer than a conventional four-semester master’s course.
Prior-cycle fee context: The first five rows use 2026-27 figures, while the two application charges apply to the current Fall 2027 process.
| Cost item | US amount | INR equivalent | Applicant meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual tuition | US$22,050 | INR 20.94 Lakhs | Prior-cycle reference |
| Required annual fees | US$8,700 | INR 8.26 Lakhs | Prior-cycle reference |
| Annual health insurance | US$2,500 | INR 2.37 Lakhs | Prior-cycle reference |
| Annual laboratory fees | US$1,800 | INR 1.71 Lakhs | Prior-cycle reference |
| Calculated annual component sum | US$35,050 | INR 33.28 Lakhs | Planning arithmetic, not a target-cycle quote |
| Fall 2027 Cal State Apply fee | US$70 | INR 6,646 | Non-refundable university application charge |
| Fall 2027 ATCAS first-program fee | US$99 | INR 9,400 | Professional application service charge |
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 94.9481 as of 26 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
Source: SDSU fee records and the current MSAT application page.
The calculated US$35,050 annual component sum (INR 33.28 Lakhs) combines listed tuition, fees, insurance and laboratory charges. Do not use it as Fall 2027 liability because SDSU has not published that cycle’s schedule.
Cost of Living in San Diego for Athletic Training Students
SDSU’s combined planning estimate is US$2,000 monthly (INR 1.90 Lakhs), separate from tuition and visa filing costs. Keep it combined because no MSAT-specific target-cycle breakdown supports independent rent, food or transport assumptions.
| Expense | US amount | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Combined living estimate | US$2,000 monthly | INR 1.90 Lakhs monthly |
| Annual living total | US$24,000 annually | INR 22.79 Lakhs annually |
A prior-cycle planning illustration totals US$118,100 (INR 1.12 Crore) across two years. It adds US$70,100 (INR 66.56 Lakhs) of listed programme components to US$48,000 (INR 45.58 Lakhs) of living costs.
The illustration excludes application and visa charges and is not SDSU’s Fall 2027 cost of attendance. Clinical placements can also create travel expenses, so request placement details before finalising a loan amount.
Read More: Cost of Living in the USA for International Students
Fee verification note
Verify the target fee on the official fee page. Ask whether laboratory, insurance and summer charges appear separately before signing a loan agreement.
ROI reality: The prior-cycle illustration reaches US$118,100 (INR 1.12 Crore), so confirm Fall 2027 charges and clinical travel exposure before fixing the borrowing ceiling.
SDSU MS Athletic Training Admission 2027
Fall 2027 is the only published intake, although admitted students begin the sequence in Summer Session I. Eligibility combines graduate academic standards, nine prerequisite areas, current clinical observation and emergency cardiac care certification.
Fall 2027 academic requirements: SDSU applies the following standards to international applicants, while the programme assesses course equivalency and clinical readiness.
| Requirement | Published standard | Indian applicant interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Prior degree | Bachelor’s from an accredited institution | A completed three-year Indian bachelor’s may qualify when the final diploma is issued |
| Academic record | GPA 3.0 on 4.0 in the last 60 units | Official equivalent is B grade or about 80%; SDSU makes the final evaluation |
| Prerequisite grades | C or better in required courses | Approximately 60% to 69% or CGPA 6.0 to 6.9 on 10; equivalency remains institutional |
| Required subjects | Anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, exercise physiology, psychology, statistics, nutrition, athletic training, chemistry, physics and weight training | Complete every listed area before the programme starts |
| Observation | 100 hours under a certified athletic trainer in at least two settings, completed within two years | Use signed verification and diversify the clinical settings |
| Emergency preparation | Current Emergency Cardiac Care certification | Confirm that the provider covers every required resuscitation skill |
| Standardised test | GRE not listed in the published checklist | Do not submit an unrequested score unless SDSU gives individual instructions |
SDSU is ranked No. 117 among National Universities by U.S. News for 2026, but that overall position is not an Athletic Training programme ranking.
Indian applicants must submit individual university mark sheets because consolidated statements are not accepted. SDSU accepts official documents or an approved course-by-course evaluation, including World Education Services under the published option.
Clinical and Curriculum Fit
The 63-unit sequence builds from emergency management and anatomy into regional diagnostics, intervention, pathopharmacology and professional leadership. Four clerkships connect that learning to supervised practice, while two immersions require concentrated clinical participation.
Each immersion lasts four to 12 weeks, and the curriculum document describes internship participation exceeding 40 hours weekly. Applicants balancing employment should therefore treat schedule flexibility as a material admission-fit question.
English Language Proficiency
SDSU accepts four current English routes for Fall 2027 and applies a two-year score-validity window. TOEFL uses different scales based on the test date, so applicants must report the original score without conversion.
| Test or route | Minimum standard | Current policy detail |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT taken on or after 21 January 2026 | 4 overall | SDSU’s published revised scale |
| TOEFL iBT taken before 21 January 2026 | 80 overall | Accepted when still within the validity window |
| IELTS | 6.5 overall | No higher MSAT minimum is published |
| PTE Academic | 58 overall | Accepted graduate route |
| Duolingo English Test | 105 overall | Accepted graduate route |
| English-medium degree | Bachelor’s where English was the principal instructional language | SDSU verifies the transcript before granting a waiver |
TOEFL iBT means Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test, IELTS means International English Language Testing System and PTE means Pearson Test of English. The published standards contain no separate MSAT component minimum.
- An English-medium Indian degree supports a waiver only after SDSU verifies the official academic record.
- Applicants needing a test should allow score delivery before the 15 December 2026 graduate-document deadline.
- The revised TOEFL minimum is 4 overall, and applicants must not self-convert results from the earlier scale.
Tip for Indian students: Secure 100 verified observation hours across two settings and map every prerequisite before starting ATCAS, because both requirements need external documentation.
SDSU MS Athletic Training Application 2027
The Fall 2027 process is open and requires separate ATCAS, Cal State Apply and Graduate Admissions actions. ATCAS closes first, so the clinical application must be complete before the university filing deadline.
Fall 2027 timeline: SDSU publishes the calendar dates below without a portal timezone or IST conversion. Indian applicants should submit on the preceding California business day and preserve each confirmation.
| Application stage | Published date | Required action |
|---|---|---|
| ATCAS opens | 01 July 2026 | Build the professional application and request references |
| Cal State Apply workspace opens | 01 August 2026 | Prepare the graduate university application |
| Cal State Apply accepts submissions | 01 October 2026 | Submit after validating programme and term |
| ATCAS final deadline | 01 November 2026 | Complete every MSAT component |
| Cal State Apply deadline | 01 December 2026 | Submit the SDSU graduate application |
| Graduate documents deadline | 15 December 2026 | Ensure transcripts, degree proof and English evidence arrive |
The professional file requires prerequisite and observation forms, technical standards, a disclosure form and current résumé. It also requires a 400 to 500-word letter, a two to three-minute video and two references.
Building a Course-Specific Application
The strongest file should demonstrate clinical readiness rather than general enthusiasm for sport. Use the letter to connect observed patient-care decisions with SDSU’s emphasis on evidence, collaboration, inclusivity and professional responsibility.
- Request one academic and one clinical reference who can evidence graduate readiness and developing clinical judgement.
- Use the résumé to separate observation, employment, leadership, certification and research evidence.
- Explain why four clerkships and two immersions support the clinical settings you want to explore.
- Create the letter and video independently because the application includes an originality affirmation covering artificial intelligence tools.
Observation verification can delay submission because every hour must come from a certified athletic trainer in qualifying settings. Complete those signatures before requesting references, then reconcile every prerequisite against the programme’s named SDSU equivalents.
Decision timing note
The current programme checklist publishes no interview process, decision date or portal cutoff timezone. Track both systems after submission and respond only to instructions issued through the official application accounts.
Application tip: Treat 01 November 2026 as the controlling deadline because ATCAS closes one month before Cal State Apply and contains the most labour-intensive evidence.
SDSU MS Athletic Training Scholarships 2027
MSAT students can pursue programme, university and professional-association funding, but Fall 2027 award values and deadlines are unpublished. Build the visa and loan plan without an award, then use confirmed funding to reduce borrowing.
Current published funding routes: The programme identifies the opportunities below, while the university funding profile describes limited international merit support.
| Funding route | Published eligibility or scope | Application action |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Gamble Bowers, Sr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship | Current MSAT students who actively participate in the Future Athletic Trainers Society | Join the organisation and monitor the enrolled-student competition |
| Gregory Voigt and Robert Moore Endowed Scholarship | Competitive award for Athletic Training students | Request the current criteria after enrollment |
| Aztec Scholarships | University opportunities available to graduate students | Complete the general application when Fall 2027 dates appear |
| NATA and FWATA opportunities | External professional awards open to eligible Athletic Training students | Check membership, stage and application conditions separately |
| SDSU merit pool | Internationally accessible support reaching about 5% to 8% of the cohort and 10% to 25% of tuition | Treat selection and coverage as uncertain |
The merit profile indicates that a GPA of 3.7 or higher is preferred, but SDSU does not present that level as an award guarantee. Academic strength supports consideration without replacing a complete financing plan.
- Submit the general scholarship application when target-cycle dates appear because programme awards may require current enrollment.
- Document clinical service, leadership and professional participation because the named awards are connected to Athletic Training engagement.
- Do not convert 10% to 25% coverage into money until SDSU publishes Fall 2027 tuition.
- Ask whether any award applies to summer enrollment because the MSAT begins before the traditional fall term.
Recent programme pages identify named recipients, which proves that Athletic Training students access these competitions. However, recipient history does not establish an international allocation, target-cycle value or probability of selection.
Also Check: San Diego State University Scholarships
Scholarship reality: Named MSAT awards exist, but Fall 2027 values are unpublished and the broader merit pool is limited, so finance the course on a no-award basis.
SDSU MS Athletic Training Salary 2027
SDSU reports 100% employment and a 97% certification-exam pass rate for MSAT graduates, but the current page does not identify the measured cohorts. These outcomes cannot establish an individual international student’s placement probability.
Current programme evidence: The official MSAT page publishes the following snapshots without cohort years, denominator details or international-student breakdowns.
| Evidence scope | Measure | Published result | Interpretation limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSAT graduate snapshot, cohort unspecified | Employment rate | 100% | No timing, role or visa-status breakdown published |
| MSAT graduate snapshot, cohort unspecified | Board of Certification pass rate | 97% | Exam result, not a salary measure |
| Programme learning network | Clinical sites | More than 30 nationwide | Placement access, not proof of recruitment |
The current page does not publish MSAT salary, offer timing, employment sectors or employer counts. Clinical-site names show supervised learning access, but they do not prove sponsorship or recurring hiring.
External market evidence: These May 2025 national figures describe the Athletic Trainer occupation across the United States, not SDSU graduates.
| Salary measure | US amount | INR equivalent | Evidence scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| National median wage | US$62,520 | INR 59.36 Lakhs | All US athletic trainers, May 2025 |
| Lowest 10% threshold | Below US$48,180 | Below INR 45.75 Lakhs | National wage distribution |
| Highest 10% threshold | Above US$88,760 | Above INR 84.28 Lakhs | National wage distribution |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation median | US$71,810 | INR 68.18 Lakhs | National industry benchmark |
| Educational services median | US$64,340 | INR 61.09 Lakhs | National industry benchmark |
| Hospitals median | US$62,690 | INR 59.52 Lakhs | National industry benchmark |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Athletic Trainers data, May 2025.
Return on Investment for Indian Students
The prior-cycle planning illustration is US$118,100 (INR 1.12 Crore), while the external US median is US$62,520 (INR 59.36 Lakhs). A payback forecast would be unsound because target tuition, taxes, funding and employment timing are unresolved.
- The US$62,520 median (INR 59.36 Lakhs) is gross national pay, so test take-home income with the IRS withholding estimator.
- The 100% employment snapshot lacks cohort and visa details, so request both before treating it as loan-repayment evidence.
- The 97% certification pass rate supports professional readiness, so protect exam preparation time during the final clinical term.
- Standard OPT lasts 12 months, so assess employers by degree relevance and sponsorship readiness before accepting a large loan.
- SDSU publishes no India-return salary, so obtain role-level Indian compensation evidence before valuing a return-home plan.
The curriculum’s clinical intensity supports entry-level practice, but it also limits the time available for unrelated paid work. Applicants should fund summer study and immersive placements without assuming that employment can offset living costs.
Read More: Post-Study Work Options in the USA
ROI reality: Certification and employment snapshots are positive but cohort-unspecified, so compare the US$118,100 planning cost (INR 1.12 Crore) against role-level offers, not headline rates.
US Visa for SDSU MS Athletic Training Students 2027
International students normally use the F-1 student classification, then may seek OPT (Optional Practical Training) for 12 months in degree-related work. A 24-month STEM extension is not established for this MSAT, so confirm the I-20 programme code before planning around it.
- The visa application costs US$185 (INR 17,565) and the I-901 SEVIS fee costs US$350 (INR 33,232), totaling US$535 (INR 50,797).
- Standard OPT lasts 12 months, so target roles that satisfy both degree relevance and professional certification requirements.
- H-1B pay must meet the higher actual or prevailing wage, with no single national Athletic Training salary threshold.
- An F-2 spouse or child may accompany the student but cannot work, and permanent residence has no fixed course-linked timeline.
Read More: US Student Visa Requirements
Visa reality: Plan around 12 months of standard OPT unless SDSU confirms a qualifying STEM code, then prioritise employers able to support certification and sponsorship.
This MSAT fits applicants with verified clinical observation, completed science prerequisites and readiness for intensive placements. Its accredited curriculum connects classroom evidence to Board of Certification eligibility across diverse clinical settings. However, unpublished target tuition and a 12-month standard work window make financing the material tradeoff. Complete ATCAS by 01 November 2026, then confirm the Fall 2027 fee schedule before fixing a loan.
SDSU MS Athletic Training FAQs
Ques. Can an Indian student apply without a kinesiology degree?
Ans. Yes, kinesiology or exercise science is recommended rather than mandatory. The applicant still needs every prerequisite, GPA 3.0 on 4.0 and 100 verified observation hours.
Ques. What budget should an Indian MSAT applicant use?
Ans. Use US$118,100 (INR 1.12 Crore) only as a prior-cycle planning illustration. It combines two years of listed programme components and living costs, while Fall 2027 tuition remains unpublished.
Ques. How should an applicant judge admission competitiveness?
Ans. GPA 3.0 on 4.0 is the threshold, not a selection guarantee. Assess readiness through prerequisite completion, recent multi-setting observation, clinical references and evidence supporting the professional goals.
Ques. When should an Indian applicant complete observation hours?
Ans. Finish the 100 hours across at least two settings before ATCAS closes on 01 November 2026. Every hour must fall within two years of the application date.
Ques. Does the SDSU MSAT qualify for extended STEM OPT?
Ans. A STEM extension is not established in the reviewed programme material. Build the career plan around 12-month standard OPT unless SDSU confirms a qualifying code on the I-20.
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- Fall 2027 document and supplemental submission deadline - Dec 15, 2026
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| Semester | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $4274 |
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|---|---|
| Food | $6706 |
| Housing | $12806 |
Per Credit Cost: $803
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| 2023 | $15048 |
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*Upcoming dates are tentatively compared to the previous year's dates.
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|---|---|
| Fall 2027 ATCAS application deadline | Jul 1, 2026 - Nov 1, 2026 |
| Fall 2027 Cal State Apply application deadline | Oct 1, 2026 - Dec 1, 2026 |
| Fall 2027 document and supplemental submission deadline | Dec 15, 2026 |
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- Online Application Form
- Application Fee
- Official Transcripts
- Proof of Degree
- English Language Test Scores
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Copy of Passport
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