2026 Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in Illinois
[Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/physical-therapy-technician-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physical therapy technician/assistant education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for physical therapy technician/assistant students.
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2026 Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical therapy technician/assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools
Lake Land College tops our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools in Illinois. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $30,529. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College generally make around $36,524. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy technician/assistant will find it at Elgin Community College, which ranked #3. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $46,319 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Dupage earned it the #4 place for physical therapy technician/assistant. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,891 in student loans. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $41,235 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy technician/assistant, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $9,834. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $36,111. That is a strong return on a $9,834 median debt.
Prairie State College earned the #6 position for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Chicago Heights, Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,176, while out-of-state students pay about $11,064. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $15,663 in student loans. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Prairie State College earn a median of $37,500 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,663 median debt.
Oakton Community College came in at #7 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $52,161. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Black Hawk College came in at #8 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Black Hawk College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Moline. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $8,100. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $16,232. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Black Hawk College earn a median of $39,761 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,232 median debt.
Morton College came in at #9 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Cicero, Morton College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,884, while out-of-state students pay about $11,028. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $7,734. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $42,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Illinois College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, while out-of-state students pay about $6,720. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,388 median debt.
Mchenry County College landed the #11 spot for physical therapy technician/assistant value this year. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,399 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Heartland Community College placed #12 among the best values for physical therapy technician/assistant. Set in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,110. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Heartland Community College generally make around $48,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Central College came in at #13 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $12,222. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. Set against $12,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fox College Inc ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Tinley Park, Fox College Inc is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,670. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $21,579 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $42,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fox College Inc admits about 70% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,000 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $40,034 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Rasmussen College Illinois earned the #16 position for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Set in the city of Rockford, Rasmussen College Illinois is a mid-sized private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,581 in tuition and fees. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $20,327 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $45,427. Set against $20,327 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 19 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.
