2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Pennsylvania
[Physical Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/physical-therapy-therapist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 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 Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools
For return on investment in physical therapy/therapist, no school beat Saint Francis University this year. Set in the rural area of Loretto, Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $26,388 in tuition and fees. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $66,408. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Saint Francis University admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #2 place for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $51,364. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gannon University earned it the #3 place for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,656. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,934. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Gannon University generally make around $67,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Chatham University earned it the #4 place for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,001 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $24,261. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Chatham University earn a median of $70,974 early in their careers. Set against $24,261 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at Misericordia University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Misericordia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,370. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,262 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Misericordia University earn a median of $68,087 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Seton Hill University came in at #6 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Greensburg, Seton Hill University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,944. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,556. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $42,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Arcadia University earned the #7 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. Students from in state pay about $49,610 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,921. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Arcadia University generally make around $78,129. Set against $26,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Messiah College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $42,240. Students borrow a median of $26,195 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Messiah College generally make around $73,524. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Lebanon Valley College placed #9 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Annville, Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,080. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,767 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Lebanon Valley College earn a median of $76,331 early in their careers. Set against $26,767 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #10 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $47,355. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $35,437. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $63,194. That is a strong return on a $35,437 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Alvernia University earned the #11 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Reading, Alvernia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,000 in tuition and fees. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $31,900 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Alvernia University earn a median of $68,231 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,900 median debt. Alvernia University admits about 58% of applicants.
Neumann University earned the #12 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Aston, Neumann University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,100. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $28,450 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Neumann University generally make around $75,714. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Temple University earned the #13 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $27,000. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Temple University earn a median of $59,914 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary came in at #14 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,500. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,857. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary generally make around $48,472. Set against $26,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary admits about 54% of applicants.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #15 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,926, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,487 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,219 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,487 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Desales University earned the #16 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Center Valley, Desales University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $46,800. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $27,524. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $78,981. Set against $27,524 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Widener University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Chester, Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,730. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,561. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Widener University Main Campus generally make around $76,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Scranton earned the #18 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,777. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $74,511 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Duquesne University placed #19 among the best values for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,986. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Duquesne University earn a median of $71,021 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Saint Josephs University came in at #20 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,260. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $26,426. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Saint Josephs University generally make around $75,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Drexel University earned the #21 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $28,838. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $61,237. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Drexel University admits about 79% of applicants.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
