2026 Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Southwest Region
[Physical Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/physical-therapy-therapist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong physical therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 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 the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in physical therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools
The University Of Texas Pan American tops our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $16,014 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. That is a strong return on a $16,014 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Texas Womans University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $60,449. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At El Paso earned it the #3 place for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $19,819. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $54,584. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Arizona University earned it the #4 place for physical therapy/therapist. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,044. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $76,945 early in their careers. Set against $21,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
Angelo State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Angelo State University is a large public school located in the city of San Angelo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $21,237. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Angelo State University earn a median of $76,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,237 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Langston University landed the #6 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Langston University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Langston. Students from in state pay about $6,863 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,616. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $30,017 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $39,579. That is a strong return on a $30,017 median debt.
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #7 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $22,930 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,659 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $58,664. That is a strong return on a $23,659 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus landed the #8 spot for physical therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $19,738 in student loans. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $71,142. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of The Incarnate Word came in at #9 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, University Of The Incarnate Word is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,090. Students borrow a median of $24,103 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $49,729. That is a strong return on a $24,103 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Hardin Simmons University earned the #10 position for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Hardin Simmons University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,960. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,674 in student loans. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Hardin Simmons University earn a median of $77,359 early in their careers. Set against $26,674 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma City University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,754. Typical student debt for physical therapy/therapist graduates is $27,248. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $58,379. Set against $27,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma Baptist University came in at #12 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the town of Shawnee, Oklahoma Baptist University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,570. Students borrow a median of $23,425 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Oklahoma Baptist University generally make around $47,100. Set against $23,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oklahoma Baptist University admits about 49% of applicants.
University Of Mary Hardin Baylor came in at #13 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Belton. Students from in state pay about $34,300 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,782 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Mary Hardin Baylor earn a median of $77,157 early in their careers. Set against $26,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Baylor University came in at #14 for value in physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Students borrow a median of $23,928 to complete the physical therapy/therapist program here. Early-career physical therapy/therapist graduates make about $74,108. That is a strong return on a $23,928 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
Narrow Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools by State
More Physical Therapy/Therapist Rankings
View All Physical Therapy/Therapist Rankings >
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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
