2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in New York
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for physical therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in New York
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 Cuny Hunter College, our #1 best value for physical therapy/therapist in New York. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,382, compared with $15,332 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $11,091. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $81,562 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,091 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Daemen College one of the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Amherst, Daemen College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,218. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $28,358. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Daemen College generally make around $59,152. That is a strong return on a $28,358 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at Stony Brook University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Stony Brook, Stony Brook University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $20,537. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $66,028. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. Stony Brook University admits about 49% of applicants.
Mercy College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. In-state tuition and fees average $22,880. Students borrow a median of $28,304 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $72,580. Set against $28,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Cuny College Of Staten Island is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public school located in the city of Staten Island. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $76,475. That is a strong return on a $14,688 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #6 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $81,165. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Dyouville College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Buffalo, Dyouville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,940. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,200. That is a strong return on a $26,250 median debt. Dyouville College admits about 81% of applicants.
University At Buffalo came in at #8 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $22,232. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $56,592. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
New York Institute Of Technology came in at #9 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the rural area of Old Westbury, New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,560. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,435 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $69,472. That is a strong return on a $25,435 median debt. New York Institute Of Technology admits about 81% of applicants.
Utica College came in at #10 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Utica, Utica College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,930 in tuition and fees. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Utica College earn a median of $47,065 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Utica College admits about 92% of applicants.
The Sage Colleges landed the #11 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. The Sage Colleges is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Students from in state pay about $38,164 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,702 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from The Sage Colleges generally make around $63,784. That is a strong return on a $26,702 median debt. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Long Island University C W Post Campus ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,432. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,211 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $59,440 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,211 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Dominican College Of Blauvelt came in at #13 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Dominican College Of Blauvelt is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Orangeburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,220. Students borrow a median of $27,033 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Dominican College Of Blauvelt generally make around $68,151. Set against $27,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Touro College earned the #14 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Touro College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,052. Students borrow a median of $20,285 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Touro College earn a median of $51,673 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Touro College admits about 61% of applicants.
Nazareth College placed #15 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,210. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Nazareth College generally make around $52,745. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Nazareth College admits about 75% of applicants.
Clarkson University landed the #16 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Potsdam. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,398. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,566. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Clarkson University generally make around $68,311. That is a strong return on a $26,566 median debt. Clarkson University admits about 77% of applicants.
Ithaca College placed #17 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Ithaca College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ithaca. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,616. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,959 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Ithaca College earn a median of $51,231 early in their careers. Set against $25,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
New York University placed #18 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,796. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of New York University earn a median of $74,409 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Marist College landed the #19 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,620 in tuition and fees. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Marist College earn a median of $60,521 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,962 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
