2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Florida

[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.
College Factual analyzed 11 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 Florida
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 University Of Florida this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $17,669. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $74,189. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Florida International University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $63,249 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #3 place for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $40,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Florida Main Campus admits about 43% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at Florida Gulf Coast University, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $20,015. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of $72,862 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Gulf Coast University admits about 63% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in physical therapy/therapist will find it at University Of North Florida, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,964 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $18,523. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $75,760. Set against $18,523 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
University Of Central Florida ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $21,620. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $72,872 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earned the #7 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785, while out-of-state students pay about $17,725. Students borrow a median of $26,824 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $48,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University admits about 21% of applicants.
Florida Southern College landed the #8 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,040. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $25,357. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $48,665. Set against $25,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Southern College admits about 64% of applicants.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #9 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $69,851. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants.
Adventist University Of Health Sciences came in at #10 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Orlando, Adventist University Of Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,420. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $28,333 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Adventist University Of Health Sciences generally make around $70,885. Set against $28,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Miami earned the #11 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Miami generally make around $73,125. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 11 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.