2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Virginia
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong physical therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for physical therapy/therapist students.
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2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools
Old Dominion University earned the #1 spot for value among physical therapy/therapist schools in Virginia. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,001. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $75,387 early in their careers. Set against $26,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Radford University earned it the #2 place for physical therapy/therapist. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,514 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $73,972. That is a strong return on a $25,514 median debt. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mary Baldwin College earned it the #3 place for physical therapy/therapist. Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Staunton. In-state tuition and fees average $21,187. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $29,562. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Mary Baldwin College earn a median of $73,640 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,562 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at Virginia Commonwealth University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $62,881. Set against $23,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Lynchburg College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,750. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Lynchburg College generally make around $107,159. Lynchburg College admits about 43% of applicants.
Emory And Henry College earned the #6 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the rural area of Emory, Emory And Henry College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,000. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,938 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Emory And Henry College generally make around $73,696. That is a strong return on a $26,938 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount University landed the #7 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,120 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,880. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Marymount University earn a median of $76,183 early in their careers. Set against $26,880 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marymount University admits about 93% of applicants.
Shenandoah University placed #8 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,950. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,005 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Shenandoah University generally make around $73,888. Set against $26,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants.
Hampton University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hampton. In-state tuition and fees average $30,592. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,169. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $69,200. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hampton University admits about 62% of applicants.
More Physical Therapy/Therapist Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
