2026 Best Value Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Schools in North Carolina

[Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 26 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 North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Schools
For return on investment in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions, no school beat Isothermal Community College this year. Located in the town of Spindale, Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,030, compared with $6,638 for out-of-state students. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Early-career rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates make about $47,389. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #2 place for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Typical student debt for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates is $15,117. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $58,000 early in their careers. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
Western Carolina University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value rehabilitation & therapeutic professions schools. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, compared with $8,630 for out-of-state students. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $54,814 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned it the #4 place for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $38,417 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Winston Salem State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,782. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of Winston Salem State University earn a median of $58,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Winston Salem State University admits about 78% of applicants.
East Carolina University placed #6 among the best values for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $56,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value rehabilitation & therapeutic professions schools. Set in the city of Concord, Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,550. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates carry a median of $24,414 in student loans. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences earn a median of $60,869 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,414 median debt. Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences admits about 23% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #8 among the best values for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. Located in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Typical student debt for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates is $21,500. Early-career rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates make about $39,366. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Wingate University landed the #9 spot for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions value this year. Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. In-state tuition and fees average $42,576. Typical student debt for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates is $25,556. Soon after graduation, rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree recipients from Wingate University generally make around $73,520. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wingate University admits about 91% of applicants.
Pfeiffer University earned the #10 position for value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions this year. Set in the rural area of Misenheimer, Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,070 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,375 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of Pfeiffer University earn a median of $54,891 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Lenoir Rhyne University earned the #11 position for value in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions this year. Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hickory. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. Students borrow a median of $26,900 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Soon after graduation, rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University generally make around $68,628. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lenoir Rhyne University admits about 85% of applicants.
Campbell University placed #12 among the best values for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buies Creek. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates carry a median of $23,641 in student loans. Soon after graduation, rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $75,561. Set against $23,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Methodist University placed #13 among the best values for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Methodist University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,250. Students borrow a median of $27,604 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Soon after graduation, rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree recipients from Methodist University generally make around $73,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Duke University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value rehabilitation & therapeutic professions schools. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Early-career rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates make about $68,778. Set against $13,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
High Point University placed #15 among the best values for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,312. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Soon after graduation, rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. Set against $23,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. High Point University admits about 75% of applicants.
Elon University landed the #16 spot for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions value this year. Elon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,958. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete the rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program here. Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates of Elon University earn a median of $74,620 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,619 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 26 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.