2027 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Illinois
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physical therapy/therapist students.
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2027 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in physical therapy/therapist in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $16,666 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $59,408. Set against $16,666 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Governors State University one of the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $69,605. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #3. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $74,259. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $55,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
North Central College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,726. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $25,699. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $46,247. That is a strong return on a $25,699 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University earned the #6 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,380 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $68,874. That is a strong return on a $26,380 median debt. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Northwestern University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $60,280. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
More Physical Therapy/Therapist Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
