2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Missouri
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools.
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2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Missouri
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 Missouri State University Springfield, our #1 best value for physical therapy/therapist in Missouri. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $24,408. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $69,907 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $69,385 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at Southwest Baptist University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Bolivar, Southwest Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,566. Students borrow a median of $24,436 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $71,351. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Washington University In St Louis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $17,553. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $72,074. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at Rockhurst University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Kansas City, Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,966 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $24,111. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $71,272. That is a strong return on a $24,111 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis earned the #6 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,166 in tuition and fees. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Maryville University Of Saint Louis generally make around $68,177. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Maryville University Of Saint Louis admits about 95% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,687 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $67,636. Set against $26,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
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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 · 8 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.
