2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Iowa
[Physical Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/physical-therapy-therapist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for physical therapy/therapist students.
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2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools
Clarke University earned the #1 spot for value among physical therapy/therapist schools in Iowa. Clarke University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,910. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,895. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Clarke University earn a median of $73,651 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,895 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at University Of Iowa, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $71,754. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Briar Cliff University earned it the #3 place for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Sioux City, Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,642. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $29,918. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $74,352. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Saint Ambrose University one of the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $27,528. 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.
More Physical Therapy/Therapist Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
