Best Online Doctorates in Sports Medicine

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Bring further study and expertise into your practice with the Best Online Doctorates in Sports Medicine. 

Best Online Doctorates in Sports Medicine

Are you seeking to make a lasting impact on the world of sports medicine? If you are looking for the opportunity to hone in on a specialized field in sports medicine, or are seeking for upward movement in your career, then making the decision to continue your higher education studies with a doctorate in sports medicine is the right choice. 

Continuing your professional education will make a meaningful influence on the health and physical performance of both individual patients and the communities you will serve. 

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

What Is a Doctorate in Sports Medicine Degree?

A doctorate is a high-level post-graduate program reserved for dedicated students and professionals who wish to gain a deeper, more specialized knowledge over certain complexities within their area of expertise. A doctorate is usually extremely researched-based, and most accredited programs will ask you to complete a dissertation regarding your subject of interest. 

When pursuing a doctoral degree in sports medicine, you carry out vital research (throughout both your practicum classes and dissertation) in areas such as biomechanics, athletic injury diagnosis, and advanced techniques in physical therapy. 

See Also: 20 Best Sports Medicine Degree Online

How Much Can You Earn with a Doctorate in Sports Medicine Degree?

PhD and doctorate holders in sports medicine are some of the top earners in the field, with professionals such as physical therapists making just under $90,000 per year, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Bureau also suggests that in the next ten years, the job outlook for jobs such as physical therapists will increase 22% in the next ten years, a rate which is much higher than the national average.

Other high-earning positions include athletic department heads, full-time professors, and medical consultants for athletic administrations. 

What Is Required for a Doctorate in Sports Medicine Degree?

Doctoral degree programs are quite advanced courses of study; requirements include a master’s degree in a related subject (such as athletic training, kinesiology, or exercise physiology) and up-to-date GRE test scores. Some schools will also ask for prior experience or coursework specific to your specialization of choice, while other programs will ask for your research. 

All post-graduate programs admit students on an acceptance basis, so your application will be reviewed by a board of professors and admittance counselors before being allowed into a cohort. 

What Are the Best Doctorates in Sports Medicine Degree?

OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program specific. For school-wide, OSR uses Student Satisfaction, Admission Rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the Median Debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.

The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.

A T Still University of Health Sciences

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $36,846
  • Credit Hours: 69
  • Ability to customize the course program in 20 different ways 
  • GRE scores not required for admission
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Median Debt

$50,000

Programs in Department

4

100%OSR Score

The Doctorate in Athletic Training Degree from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences tops our list for its high-quality approach to learning. Unlike most PhD programs, this sports medicine doctorate is firmly rooted in clinical, practical expertise. Coursework places an emphasis on leadership positions within athletic administration in addition to vocational skills. 

Indiana State University

Indiana State University

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $24, 282 (in state)/ $47,709 (out of state) 
  • Credit Hours: 57
  • Open only to students from the United States and  Canada
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

73%

Acceptance Rate

85%

Programs Offered Online

19

Median Debt

$66,672

Programs in Department

2

Popularity at School

15%

83%OSR Score

The massive campus at Indiana State University dominates the quaint town of Terre Haute, Indiana. Indiana State’s program offerings are quite extensive, but the Doctorate in Athletic Training stands out for its rigorous internal standards and its commitment to community engagement and inclusion. This program boasts the only Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) DAT program in the nation.

Moravian College

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $36,000
  • Credit Hours: 60
  • Ability to transition to part-time status after the first semester
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

75%

Acceptance Rate

76%

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Popularity at School

22%

80%OSR Score

Moravian College truly pushes the boundaries of modern exercise science with their Athletic Training Doctorate. Course examples for this program include Emerging Practices in Athletic Training, Entrepreneurship in Sports Medicine, and Special Populations in Athletic Training. This program offers a 25% discount on tuition for certified athletic trainers who are employed in St. Luke’s University Health Network.

Temple University

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $35,100
  • Credit Hours: 36
  • Can be taken simultaneously with TU’s Credential in Higher Education
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

74%

Acceptance Rate

57%

Programs Offered Online

6

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Popularity at School

5%

72%OSR Score

Temple University stands out from the competition by being one of the only universities in the nation to offer its online Doctorate in Athletic Training without even one in-person requirement. So if travel is an absolute no for you, then thins program might be perfect for you. Courses can be taken in six or fifteen-week sessions, allowing you ultimate flexibility when managing your course schedule. 

University of Idaho

University of Idaho

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $4,938 (in state) / $14,556 (out of state) 
  • Credit Hours: 66
  • Focuses on cutting-edge skills in manual therapy and research application
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

75%

Acceptance Rate

73%

Programs Offered Online

7

Programs Offered Online

Not reported

Popularity at School

2%

64%OSR Score

While it’s home city might not be recognizable, the University of Idaho quite literally wrote the book on post-graduate degrees in athletic training. It’s DAT program is the first of its kind in the nation. This Doctorate in Athletic Training offers great value for investment, as it’s the most affordable degree program on our list. 

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.