2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools
For return on investment in physical therapy/therapist, no school beat California State University Long Beach this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $83,234. Set against $15,671 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at California State University Fresno, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,341 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $15,598. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $72,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Northridge earned it the #3 place for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nevada Las Vegas earned it the #4 place for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,181 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $83,708. Set against $21,181 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Sacramento earned it the #5 place for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $17,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $91,568. Set against $17,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
San Francisco State University earned the #6 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,846 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $85,961. Set against $17,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #7 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,780 early in their careers. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Washington University came in at #8 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Eastern Washington University is a large public school located in the town of Cheney. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,586, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,326 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $65,040. Set against $25,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego State University earned the #9 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $67,333. Set against $16,417 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University came in at #10 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,190. Students borrow a median of $24,043 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $51,000. Set against $24,043 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Azusa Pacific University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,458 in tuition and fees. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,709 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $82,817 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Mount St Marys College came in at #12 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,564. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,555 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Mount St Marys College earn a median of $89,701 early in their careers. Set against $27,555 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Pacific came in at #13 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. In-state tuition and fees average $57,080. Students borrow a median of $23,514 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $88,755. That is a strong return on a $23,514 median debt. University Of The Pacific admits about 71% of applicants.
George Fox University placed #14 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Newberg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,320. Students borrow a median of $25,324 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of George Fox University earn a median of $74,971 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,324 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $15,625. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $77,049 early in their careers. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Pacific University landed the #16 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the suburb of Forest Grove, Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $56,374. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,170 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Pacific University generally make around $73,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Puget Sound came in at #17 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. University Of Puget Sound is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. In-state tuition and fees average $62,898. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $25,287. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Puget Sound generally make around $75,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Puget Sound admits about 72% of applicants.
Chapman University came in at #18 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,984. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,657 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $77,192. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Chapman University admits about 65% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/physical-therapy-therapist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
