2027 Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in Illinois
[Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/physical-therapy-technician-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physical therapy technician/assistant education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools.
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2027 Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in Illinois
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
Leading the list is Lake Land College, our #1 best value for physical therapy technician/assistant in Illinois. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $7,769. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,529 early in their careers. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakton Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy technician/assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $7,750. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $52,161. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy technician/assistant will find it at Elgin Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $46,319. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Prairie State College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. In-state tuition and fees average $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $15,663. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $37,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Morton College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Cicero, Morton College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,884, compared with $11,028 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,734 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $42,975. That is a strong return on a $7,734 median debt.
Mchenry County College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,162, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Black Hawk College came in at #7 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Black Hawk College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Moline. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,100. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $16,232 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Black Hawk College generally make around $39,761. Set against $16,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College landed the #8 spot for physical therapy technician/assistant value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $11,000. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College earn a median of $36,524 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage came in at #9 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Students borrow a median of $13,891 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $41,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the town of Olney, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,260, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $9,434. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $38,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College placed #11 among the best values for physical therapy technician/assistant. Set in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, compared with $6,720 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. Set against $10,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $9,834. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Harper College earn a median of $36,111 early in their careers. Set against $9,834 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Heartland Community College earned the #13 position for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $13,110. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $13,266. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Heartland Community College earn a median of $48,710 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Central College placed #14 among the best values for physical therapy technician/assistant. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,150. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $12,222. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $53,190. Set against $12,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox College Inc came in at #15 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Tinley Park, Fox College Inc is a small private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $17,670 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $21,579. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $42,418. That is a strong return on a $21,579 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #16 spot for physical therapy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $17,000. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $40,034 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Rasmussen College Illinois placed #17 among the best values for physical therapy technician/assistant. Located in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen College Illinois is a mid-sized private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,581. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $20,327 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Rasmussen College Illinois generally make around $45,427. Set against $20,327 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
