2026 Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical therapy technician/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools
Our analysis ranked San Diego Mesa College the best value for a degree in physical therapy technician/assistant in the Far Western Region. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from San Diego Mesa College generally make around $29,852. Set against $6,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy technician/assistant will find it at College Of The Sequoias, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $57,242. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy technician/assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Sacramento City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy technician/assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,288, compared with $12,616 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,008 in student loans. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Sacramento City College earn a median of $48,969 early in their careers. Set against $15,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kapiolani Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy technician/assistant, landing the #5 spot this year. Kapiolani Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Honolulu. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,284, compared with $8,420 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $15,496. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Kapiolani Community College generally make around $42,172. Set against $15,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shasta College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. Set against $12,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bakersfield College placed #7 among the best values for physical therapy technician/assistant. Bakersfield College is a very large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,430, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,419 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Bakersfield College generally make around $86,312. Set against $9,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #8 among the best values for physical therapy technician/assistant. Set in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Students borrow a median of $20,335 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $45,385. Set against $20,335 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Spokane Falls Community College placed #9 among the best values for physical therapy technician/assistant. Spokane Falls Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. Students from in state pay about $5,461 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $47,797. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt Hood Community College came in at #10 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Mt Hood Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Gresham. Students from in state pay about $5,247 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,819. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $20,292. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Mt Hood Community College generally make around $40,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mendocino College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the rural area of Ukiah, Mendocino College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,423, compared with $10,003 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $20,000. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Mendocino College earn a median of $81,203 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt.
Lane Community College landed the #12 spot for physical therapy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the suburb of Eugene, Lane Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,202 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,078. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $25,131 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Lane Community College generally make around $42,142. That is a strong return on a $25,131 median debt.
Olympic College landed the #13 spot for physical therapy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Bremerton, Olympic College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,472 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,740 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,497 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Olympic College generally make around $41,886. That is a strong return on a $11,497 median debt.
Whatcom Community College landed the #14 spot for physical therapy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Whatcom Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,296 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,435. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $19,660 in student loans. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Whatcom Community College earn a median of $44,573 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,660 median debt.
Green River Community College placed #15 among the best values for physical therapy technician/assistant. Green River Community College is a large public school located in the city of Auburn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,711, while out-of-state students pay about $5,263. Median earnings reach $50,712 ten years out.
East Los Angeles College came in at #16 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,238 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,572 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,180 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from East Los Angeles College generally make around $33,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Alaska Anchorage earned the #17 position for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the city of Anchorage, University Of Alaska Anchorage is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,738, while out-of-state students pay about $21,322. Students borrow a median of $15,743 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $44,513. Set against $15,743 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Desert came in at #18 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the city of Palm Desert, College Of The Desert is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,326, while out-of-state students pay about $10,174. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $7,826. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of College Of The Desert earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,826 median debt.
Ohlone Community College came in at #19 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the city of Fremont, Ohlone Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,202 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,714. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Ohlone Community College generally make around $22,545. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Concorde Career College Garden Grove earned the #20 position for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Garden Grove, Concorde Career College Garden Grove is a small private for-profit university. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $19,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Concorde Career College Garden Grove generally make around $42,923. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concorde Career College Garden Grove admits about 97% of applicants.
Cbd College placed #21 among the best values for physical therapy technician/assistant. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Cbd College is a small private not-for-profit university. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,800 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Cbd College generally make around $41,319. That is a strong return on a $13,800 median debt.
Pima Medical Institute Las Vegas landed the #22 spot for physical therapy technician/assistant value this year. Pima Medical Institute Las Vegas is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Las Vegas. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $18,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute Las Vegas generally make around $38,045. Set against $18,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Concorde Career College North Hollywood landed the #23 spot for physical therapy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the city of North Hollywood, Concorde Career College North Hollywood is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $40,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concorde Career College North Hollywood admits about 100% of applicants.
American College Of Healthcare Riverside came in at #24 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the city of Riverside, American College Of Healthcare Riverside is a small private for-profit university. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $9,500. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $21,250. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
California Baptist University landed the #25 spot for physical therapy technician/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,228. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $28,169. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of California Baptist University earn a median of $51,999 early in their careers. Set against $28,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in physical therapy technician/assistant:
Narrow Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 43 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/physical-therapy-technician-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
