2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Master’s Degree Schools
[Physical Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/physical-therapy-therapist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 293 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physical therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools
For return on investment in physical therapy/therapist, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $16,666. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $70,116. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Hunter College earned it the #2 place for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, with out-of-state students paying around $15,332. Students borrow a median of $11,091 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $81,562. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. California State University Fresno is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,598 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from California State University Fresno generally make around $56,219. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Florida International University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $63,249. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #5. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $16,014 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. Set against $16,014 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge landed the #6 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $16,202. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $55,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #7 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $57,338. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill landed the #8 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $48,775 early in their careers. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
University Of Utah earned the #9 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Utah generally make around $72,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #10 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $21,829. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $40,855. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Texas Womans University earned the #11 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $24,211. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $68,565. Set against $24,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Womans University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Louisiana Monroe placed #12 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Monroe, University Of Louisiana Monroe is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,190, while out-of-state students pay about $21,290. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $22,465. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Louisiana Monroe generally make around $47,162. That is a strong return on a $22,465 median debt. University Of Louisiana Monroe admits about 85% of applicants.
Governors State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. 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. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #14 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,937 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $60,386. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #15 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,015 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $72,862 early in their careers. Set against $20,015 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Kean University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Kean University is a large public school located in the suburb of Union. Students from in state pay about $14,299 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,446 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,703 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Kean University generally make around $73,099. That is a strong return on a $26,703 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
West Virginia University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $28,608. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from West Virginia University generally make around $58,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Eastern Washington University landed the #18 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,586, while out-of-state students pay about $26,583. Students borrow a median of $25,326 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Eastern Washington University earn a median of $70,652 early in their careers. Set against $25,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Augusta University landed the #19 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Augusta University is a large public school located in the city of Augusta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,414, while out-of-state students pay about $24,734. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $25,745. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Augusta University earn a median of $71,697 early in their careers. Set against $25,745 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University earned the #20 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $25,582 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $71,232. That is a strong return on a $25,582 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $59,225. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin La Crosse came in at #22 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. University Of Wisconsin La Crosse is a large public school located in the city of La Crosse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,070, with out-of-state students paying around $19,517. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $21,374. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin La Crosse generally make around $64,132. Set against $21,374 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Tennessee State University earned the #23 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $22,416 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $29,489 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $61,651. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tennessee State University admits about 70% of applicants.
Worcester State University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,786 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Worcester State University earn a median of $45,297 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Worcester State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Chicago State University earned the #25 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,754, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $43,322 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $47,477 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $43,322 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in physical therapy/therapist:
Other Physical Therapy/Therapist Degree Levels
Explore the best-value physical therapy/therapist schools at other degree levels:
View All Physical Therapy/Therapist Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 293 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
