2026 Best Value Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Schools in Illinois

[Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong rehabilitation & therapeutic professions education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools to find the best return on investment for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions students.
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2026 Best Value Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Schools
Joliet Junior College earned the #1 spot for value among rehabilitation & therapeutic professions schools in Illinois. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates is $11,995. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Governors State University earned it the #2 place for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,004. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Early-career rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates make about $69,605. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value rehabilitation & therapeutic professions schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $16,666 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $59,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions will find it at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #4. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Typical student debt for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates is $25,209. Early-career rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates make about $74,259. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
A rank of #5 makes Chicago State University one of the best values for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. Chicago State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $12,754, with out-of-state students paying around $12,757. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates carry a median of $43,322 in student loans. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $67,878 early in their careers. Set against $43,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value rehabilitation & therapeutic professions schools. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Early-career rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates make about $58,719. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University placed #7 among the best values for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates is $24,838. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $55,718 early in their careers. Set against $24,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
Aurora University earned the #8 position for value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $41,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College earned the #9 position for value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Soon after graduation, rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $65,792. That is a strong return on a $22,400 median debt. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
North Central College earned the #10 position for value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,726 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,699 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Early-career rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates make about $46,247. Set against $25,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Bradley University placed #11 among the best values for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Early-career rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates make about $68,874. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Northwestern University earned the #12 position for value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $60,280 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago came in at #13 for value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions this year. Located in the city of Chicago, School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,623. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree recipients from School Of The Art Institute Of Chicago generally make around $49,062. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 78% 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.