2027 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Southwest Region
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physical therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Southwest Region
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
Leading the list is The University Of Texas Pan American, our #1 best value for physical therapy/therapist in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $16,014. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,014 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At El Paso is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $54,584 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Texas Womans University one of the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Texas Womans University earn a median of $60,449 early in their careers. Set against $24,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Arizona University earned it the #4 place for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $76,945 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Langston University one of the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Langston University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Langston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,863, with out-of-state students paying around $14,616. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $30,017 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Langston University earn a median of $39,579 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Angelo State University landed the #6 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,237 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Angelo State University generally make around $76,537. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, while out-of-state students pay about $33,060. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $71,142. Set against $19,738 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #8 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $23,659. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $58,664. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Hardin Simmons University placed #9 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Abilene, Hardin Simmons University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,960. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,674. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Hardin Simmons University earn a median of $77,359 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of The Incarnate Word placed #10 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $37,090 in tuition and fees. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,103 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of The Incarnate Word earn a median of $49,729 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,103 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Oklahoma City University placed #11 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,754. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $27,248. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Oklahoma City University earn a median of $58,379 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Hardin Baylor ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Belton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,300. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,782 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $77,157. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $74,108. That is a strong return on a $23,928 median debt. The acceptance rate is 51%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
