2027 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Iowa

[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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 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 Iowa
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 University Of Iowa, our #1 best value for physical therapy/therapist in Iowa. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, compared with $33,371 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $71,754. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Briar Cliff University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Sioux City. Students from in state pay about $35,642 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $29,918. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Briar Cliff University generally make around $74,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clarke University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Dubuque, Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,910. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,895. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $73,651. That is a strong return on a $26,895 median debt. Clarke University admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Saint Ambrose University one of the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Davenport, Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,658. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,528 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Saint Ambrose University earn a median of $70,244 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Ambrose University admits about 77% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.