2026 Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in Virginia

[Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/physical-therapy-technician-assistant/) 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.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools.
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2026 Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the physical therapy technician/assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant Schools
Patrick Henry Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools in Virginia. Set in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, compared with $11,440 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,235 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Patrick Henry Community College earn a median of $33,358 early in their careers. Set against $11,235 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy technician/assistant will find it at Virginia Western Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Virginia Western Community College generally make around $36,245. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
Tidewater Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $17,601. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $29,799. That is a strong return on a $17,601 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy technician/assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $40,126. That is a strong return on a $14,413 median debt.
Radford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy technician/assistant, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates carry a median of $30,625 in student loans. Physical Therapy Technician/assistant graduates of Radford University earn a median of $47,271 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,625 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Ecpi University came in at #6 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Ecpi University is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,484. Typical student debt for physical therapy technician/assistant graduates is $16,637. Soon after graduation, physical therapy technician/assistant degree recipients from Ecpi University generally make around $31,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
South Universityrichmond came in at #7 for value in physical therapy technician/assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Allen, South Universityrichmond is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,895. Students borrow a median of $30,694 to complete the physical therapy technician/assistant program here. Early-career physical therapy technician/assistant graduates make about $39,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.