Physical Therapy, with a 34% job growth estimate and an annual, median salary of $84,000, is among the top healthcare careers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) requires graduate coursework in either an entry-level or transitional degree program. The Transitional DPT is designed for those currently working in physical therapy and the entry level DPT program requires anywhere from 3-4 years of study, including clinical experience. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) reviews DPTs programs to verify best practices and quality educational experiences.
Physical Therapy was listed by Best Medical Degrees in its 50 Top Paying Healthcare Careers. The DPT programs listed below considers tuition costs, curriculum, CAPTE accreditation and program rankings as cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review or Forbes Magazine. For the most part, DPT entry level programs are traditional, classroom and clinical experiences. Some schools offer online Transitional DPT programs and some utilize the Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service. The Doctor of Physical Therapy has become the community standard, replacing the Masters of Physical Therapy degree at most schools.
Graduates of a DPT program are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Physical Therapy. Licensure is required to practice; and, students should verify the program chosen will meet with state requirements.
Fellowships, Scholarship and Assistantships
Some Doctor of Physical Therapy programs may offer departmental assistance for students. You should check with your admissions advisor to see if that may be case for the program your choosing.
Federal Financial Aid
The federal government offers limited Federal Financial Aid for graduate and professional degrees. These primarily come in the form of loans; but, you may want to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Schools, and other funding opportunities, may request the a FASA for any scholarship consideration.
Employee Reimbursement
For students who may be considering a Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy program and who are currently employed, you may want to see if your employer sponsors an employment tuition program.
Veterans, Active Military, Spouses and Dependents
Active, or retired, service members should check with the chosen schools to see if they offer a tuition discount for your service.
1. University of California-San Francisco
This is a three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy degree offered by a program recognized as #20 in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Program rankings. A joint program between UCSF and San Francisco State University (SFSU), the DPT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Highlights of the entry level program curriculum involve evidence-based practices, theoretical foundations in basic, medical and applied sciences; and, includes anatomy, physiology, neuromuscular, therapeutic modalities and robust clinical experiences.
The University of California-San Francisco medical center has an interesting history having been established in 1864 by a South Carolina surgeon who had migrated west during the California Gold Rush in 1849. Following the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the original hospital and its affiliates cared for the victims. In 1949, the California Board of Regents established an academic medical program which has grown to highly recognized medical center we know today.
Length of Program: 115 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $33,660
2. Texas Woman’s University
The Doctor of Physical Therapy entry level degree at Texas Woman’s University holds CAPTE accreditation and a #28 Best Physical Therapy ranking by U.S. News and World Report. The university offers this degree on both their Houston and Dallas campuses. Also offered is the university’s DPT to PhD, a fast track DPT to PhD option, as the school attempts to increase the number of academic physical therapy instructors to meet the growing needs of the profession. Students must have a baccalaureate degree with prerequisites in chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, college algebra, medical terminology and psychology.
Texas Woman’s University dates to 1901 when the Girls Industrial College by the Texas legislature. The TWU Institute of Health Sciences opened in Dallas in 1966 and the school began admitting men in 1972. Texas Woman’s University is recognized by the Carnegie Classification of Doctoral/Research Universities.
Length of Program: 33 Months
Estimated Tuition Cost: $35,700 (Resident); $74,000 (Non Resident)
3. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Following 108 credit hours of coursework in fundamentals of physical therapy, clinical anatomy, concepts in rehabilitation sciences, differential diagnosis, evidence based practice, pathology and clinical education, students will be awarded a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. This program is accredited by CAPTE and ranks #46 in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Programs.
The University of Oklahoma was established in 1890 in Enid, Oklahoma; and, the Health Sciences began in 1970. The university currently has programs available in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Program Length: 108 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $37,800
4. University of Nebraska Medical Center
The College of Allied Health Professions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree is CAPTE accredited and ranks #28 by U.S. News and World Report. The curriculum covers studies in anatomy, physiology, musculoskeletal physical therapy, pathophysiology, orthotics and prosthetics, differential diagnosis, critical inquiry, among others. A clinical education component is required in the second and third semesters of study.
The medical center has its roots dating to 1881 in Omaha and has since developed into currently has 11 departments: College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Dentistry, College of Public Health, Graduate College, College of Allied Health Professions, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute, Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute Physical Therapy as a course of study began at the UNMC in 1968.
Length of Program: 123 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $45,690 (Resident); $88,495 (Non Resident)
5. Virginia Commonwealth University School of Allied Professions
Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the Virginia Commonwealth University provides a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which may be completed in three years. Coursework includes kinesiology, anatomy, pharmacology, rehabilitation aspects, orthopedics and clinical education. Clinical education may be completed at any of the 210 clinical sites offered throughout the United States. The School of Allied Professionals offers scholarship opportunities.
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) established a physical therapy masters degree in 1941 and the program has grown exponentially since then. The Doctor of Physical Therapy was begun in 2001 and is ranked #20 in Best Physical Therapy Programs by U.S. News and World Report. VCU is ranked by the magazine in the top 200 of National Universities and #87 in Top Public Schools. Located in Richmond, Virginia, the university was established in 1838 and has over 31,000 students currently enrolled.
Program Length: 121 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $44,940 (Resident); $95,800 (Non Resident)
6. University of Illinois College of Applied Health Sciences
An entry level Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Studies include introduction to physical therapy, gross anatomy, applied kinesiology, therapeutic appliances, neuromuscular dysfunction, clinical applications and clinical internships. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), this program takes approximately 8 semesters to complete and students are able to work with a wide range of patients in pediatrics, geriatrics and adults. The school has a national physical therapy national board exam rate of 97.7% pass rate.
The College of Applied Health Sciences has its beginnings in 1913 with the Physical Therapy program beginning in 1971. U.S. News and World Report ranked the University of Illinois-Chicago DPT program #15 in its Best Physical Therapy rankings; and, the university ranked #78 in the Top Public Schools ranking. Located in Chicago, the university has an enrollment of over 29,000 students.
Program Length: 121 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $45,920 (Resident); $94,880 (Non Resident)
7. University of Wisconsin-Madison
This entry level eDoctor of Physical Therapy program through the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health, received a #28 U.S. News and World Report ranking as a Best Physical Therapy Program. The program focuses on the diagnosis and intervention and has a curriculum that includes: human anatomy, neuromuscular mechanics, physical therapy foundations, prosthetics and clinical internship. Students may need to complete prerequisite courses, dependent on their previous degree.
The School of Medicine and Public Health graduated its first class in 1908 and the physical therapy program traces its beginnings to 1926. Accredited by the CAPTE, the DPT program and has a current enrollment of 119 students. The University of Wisconsin-Madison received a 2017 ranking in the top 50 by U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities listing.
Program Length: 122 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $52,877 (Resident); $107,850 (Non Resident)
8. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
This is an entry level Doctor of Physical TherapyDoctor of Physical Therapy which is CAPTE accredited and can be completed in three years. Focusing on the standard curriculum of anatomy, neuromuscular conditions, physiology, etc., the curriculum also requires clinical education, advanced patient care, clinical reasoning and integrated clinical experience.
Located in Aurora, Colorado, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is the largest academic health center in the Rocky Mountain region and has received acclaim fro U.S. News and World Report as having two of the Top Hospitals in the Nation. The DPT program is rated #15 by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Program and has its beginnings in 1948 as a certificate program and offering a baccalaureate in 1952; and, has been offering the DPT degree since 2007 to present.
Program Length: 116 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $55,796 (Resident); $116,696 (Non Resident)
9. University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences
An entry level degree, the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences received a #18 ranking by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Programs. The 9 semester program covers traditional coursework as well as clinical internships which are offered in one of 29 national, and international, clinical sites affiliated with the college.
Courses are offered at UK’s Lexington or at the Center of Excellence in Rural Health in Hazard, Kentucky. The Frankfort, Kentucky university began in 1865 and presently has an enrollment over 29,000 students and is ranked #133 in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities.
Program Length: 137 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $56,676 (Resident); $135,225 (Non Resident)
10. University of Iowa
The Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa Health Care, offers a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree at its Iowa City campus. A CAPTE accredited program, which enrolls approximately 40 students per academic year. Students complete courses in principles in physical therapy, human anatomy, pathology, kinesiology and pathomechanics, neuroanatomy, physical therapy and administrative management, pharmacology, adult and pediatric physical therapy and clinical practice. This program has been ranked #6 in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Programs.
Started in 1942 at the request of the U.S. Army, the Doctor of Physical Therapy replaced the Master of Physical Therapy in 2003. The University of Iowa is a public institution which ranks #82 in U.S. News and World Report’s Regional Universities, #50 as Best Schools for Veterans and #33 for Top Public Schools. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, the university was founded in 1837 and has a current enrollment in excess of 30,000 students.
Program Length: 2.5 Years
Estimated Total Tuition Cost: $58,042 (Resident); $113,027 (Non Resident)
11. University of Central Arkansas
Offering a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which is accredited by CAPTE. Students will follow a course of study including gross anatomy, human physiology, neuroscience, kinesiology, pathology, musculoskeletal physical therapy, cardiopulmonary principles and practice, research and educational practicum. Successful graduates will be eligible to sit for the national board exam to become licensed physical therapists. The university offers in-state tuition qualification for students from Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
Ranked #53 by U.S. News and World Report in its Best Physical Therapy Programs, UCA holds accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission and the school is ranked #53 in U.S. News and World Reports Regional Universities and #24 Top Public Schools. Founded in Conway, Arkansas in 1907, the University of Central Arkansas has an enrollment of overly 11,000 students.
Program Length: 123 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $40,016 (Resident); $59,778 (Non Resident)
12. University of Florida
This two-year, entry level Doctor of Physical Therapy offered by the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions, is accredited by CAPTE. The curriculum encompasses the usual physical therapy courses in pathophysiology, anatomy, exercise physiology and differential diagnosis. The curriculum plan includes 32 weeks of clinical internship and several weeks of an integrated part-time clinical experience.
The program was started in 1953 to train physical therapists at the undergraduate level and was approved in 1997 to offer the graduate entry-level graduate program. Ranked #10 by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Program, graduates with this degree maintains a high 91.3% first time board rate. The University of Florida is located in Gainesville, Florida and has an educational presence in the area since 1853.
Program Length: 113 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $45,444 (Resident); $63,924 (Non Resident)
13. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
This graduate program results in a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. The entry level program is a three-year course of study which includes 114 credit hours in didactic and clinical study; and, a minimum of 36 weeks of a clinical rotation. UNC-Chapel Hill also offers a Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which is designed for currently licensed physical therapists. Offered part time, this degree may be completed via distance learning.
Physical Therapy has been part of the curriculum at the University of North Carolina through it’s Allied Health Sciences department since 1952. Accredited by CAPTE, this program has been ranked #15 in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Program; and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has been the recipient of high ratings by U.S. News and World Report in the areas of Best Colleges for Veterans, National Universities, Best Value Schools and Top Public Schools. The university was founded in 1789 and has a current enrollment in excess of 29,000 students.
Program Length: 126 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $51,000 (Residents); $95,000 (Non Residents)
14. Ohio State University
Coming in with a #10 ranking by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Programs, Ohio State University offers a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the program has a limited enrollment of 40-50 students per academic year. Students will cover anatomy, principles and procedures in PT practice, musculoskeletal diagnosis and management, evidence based practices, adult neurological management, geriatric management, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, advanced orthopedic PT and a capstone project as well as a clinical practicum.
Calling Columbus, Ohio home, Ohio State University was established in 1870 and has grown to a robust, public school with an undergraduate enrollment of over 45,000 students. U.S. News and World Report ranks OSU #54 in its Regional Universities ratings and has also named it #31 as a Best Colleges for Veterans. The university holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Length: 117 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $53,586 (Resident); $119,925 (Non Resident)
15. University of New England
Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the University of New England’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program has been ranked in the top 100 of U.S. News and World Report’s national Best Physical Therapy Programs. Eight semesters in length, this requires coursework in gross anatomy, the musculoskeletal system, psychosocial aspects of disabilities and injuries, physical therapy management, public policy and management and clinical practicum experiences.
The University of New England, located in Biddeford, Maine, was founded in 1831 and is a private institution with more than 30 undergraduate and 13 graduate programs. UNE has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report has been ranked #80 in Regional Universities North and #44 Top Schools for Veterans.
Program Length: 103 Credit Hours
Estimated Total Tuition Cost $64,680
16. Kansas University Medical Center
This Doctor of Physical Therapy two-year program studies medical imaging, anatomy, muscularskeletal conditions and management, evidence based practice practicum, pathophysiology and pathology, cardiopulmonary, pediatric, neurologic and orthopedic physical therapy. There is a clinical practicum component as well.
Established in 1943 in response to the nationwide polio epidemic, the physical therapy program is housed in KUMC’s School of Health Professions. The degree is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and the DPT has received a #20 ranking by U.S. News and World Report for Best Physical Therapy Program. Located in Kansas City, Kansas University was founded in 1865 and has a current enrollment of over 26,000 students. The university is ranked #118 in Regional Universities by U.S. News and World Report and in the top 100 rankings for Best Colleges for Veterans and Top Public Schools.
Program Length: 110 Credit Hours
Estimated Total Tuition $70,758 (Resident); $125,278 (Non Resident)
17. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this university offers, through it’s Department of Rehabilitation Science a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree requiring 8 semesters of attendance. With coursework encompassing anatomy,neurology, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, clinical clerkship and internships. The school also offers a dual program for students seeking a Doctor of PT/PhD of PT degree.
The rehabilitation program dates to 1941 and is CAPTE accredited. The University of Minnesota dates to 1851 and has been ranked in the top 100 by U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities and #26 Top Public Schools. The Department of Rehabilitation Science’s Doctor of Physical Therapy has achieved a #20 ranking in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Programs.
Program Length: 141 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $71,168 (Resident); $119,080 (Non Resident)
18. University of Washington-Seattle
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Washington is accredited by CAPTE and U.S. News and World Report ranked it #28 in its Best Physical Therapy Programs nationwide. The DPT curriculum includes the benchmark courses in anatomy, physiology, neurophysiology, etc.; but, also incorporates diseases and diagnosis in rehabilitation, biomechanics basis of exercise, kinesiology for rehabilitation. This DPT degree requires a capstone project and the final three quarters are devoted to clinical internships.
The University of Washington, located in Seattle, opened in 1861 as the Territorial University of Washington in Seattle. The university has been ranked #54 as a National Universities by U.S. News and World Report and #16 in its Top Public Schools. With an enrollment in excess of 45,000 students, the university has 140 academic departments housed within the 19 colleges of the university.
Program Length: 153 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $72,171 (Resident); $134,354 (Non Resident)
19. University of Maryland School of Medicine
The University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, provides an entry level Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which focuses on the fundamental sciences, clinical experience, examination and intervention skills. Curriculum offerings include evidence based practice and studies in musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and medical issues. The third, and final year, emphasizes a clinical internship.
The School of Medicine is the country’s fifth oldest medical school in the U.S. and the first public medical school having been founded in 1807. The DPT program is accredited by CAPTE and has been recognized as #28 by U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Programs rankings. The school has 25 academic departments and has 182 currently enrolled students in the Physical Therapy Program.
Program Length: 118 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $75,392 (Resident); $120,242 (Non Resident)
20. Regis University Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions
Regis University offers a CAPTE accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy degree that’s been ranked in the top 30 of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Programs. The entry level program requires applicants to have a baccalaureate degree in any field other than physical therapy. Located in Denver, Colorado, Regis University is ranked #23 in U.S. News and World Report’s Regional Universities and has an estimated enrollment of over 8,000 students.
The DPT curriculum includes human anatomy, clinical inquiry, professional issues and case management, biomechanics, pharmacology, evidence based practice, diagnostic imaging and procedures, a physical therapy capstone project and clinical education. Graduates are eligible to sit for the national exams in physical therapy for licensure.
Program Length: 110 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $90,750
21. Mayo School of Health Related Sciences
The Mayo Clinic is a one of the most recognized names in health care and its School of Health Related Sciences provides a Physical Therapy Doctoral program at its Rochester, Minnesota campus. Accredited by CAPTE, this program received a #20 ranking in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Programs. Graduates will be prepared to screen, examine, evaluate, diagnose and develop rehabilitation plans for patients. The DPT will be qualified to practice independently or in a group facility, as well as work as an evidence-based practitioner. The school has a small academic year admission rate, admitting up to 28 students per year.
The Mayo Clinic has a rich heritage dating to 1864 when the first clinic was established in Rochester by William Worrall Mayo, following his tenure as an examining surgeon for Civil War draftees. Through the years, the clinic has expanded to Arizona and Florida and more than a million patients are seen annually at one of the Mayo Clinics. The Physical Therapy Doctorate has been part of the Mayo Clinic system since 1939.
Program Length: 133 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $91,105
22. Columbia University Medical Center
Located in New York City, the Columbia University Medical Center provides a entry level, CPTE accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy. The curriculum focuses on clinical sciences, critical inquiry, scientific foundations, professional practices and clinical experiences. As an entry level degree, students may have 45 hours of prerequisites to complete; and, the school offers approximately 400 clinical sites throughout the country and abroad for internships and clinical experience.
Columbia University is one of the oldest educational institutions in the country, established in 1754 under royal charter by King George III; in 1928, the created the country’s first academic medical center in 1928. Columbia University is ranked #5 in National Universities by U.S. News and World Report and #6 in its Best Value Schools. The DPT degree ranks #36 as Best Physical Therapy Programs.
Program Length: 36 Months
Estimated Tuition Cost: $93,520
23. Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University, located in Atlanta, Georgia, offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Coursework for this degree includes normal structure and function of the human body and principles of movement science, pathophysiology and disease processes, musculoskeletal rehabilitation as well as adult neuro rehabilitation and pediatric rehabilitation. Students are required to complete 30 hours of clinical internships. Students are also expected to sit for state licensure board exams upon graduation.
Ranked #5 for its Physical Therapy Program by U.S. News and World Report, Emory University School of Medicine was established in 1851 as the Atlanta Medical College. Emory University holds accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has an annual enrollment of over 13,000 students. The university holds a #20 U.S. News and World Report ranking in its National Universities ranking; the school also has been recognized by that organization as #11 Best School for Veterans and #17 Best Value Schools.
Program Length: 144 Credit Hours
Estimated Total Tuition Cost: $104,277
24. Duke University
Duke University School of Medicine has a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, accredited by CAPTE and ranked #10 in Best Physical Therapy Programs by U.S. News and World Report. Housed in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, the curriculum for this degree includes studies in movement sciences, brain and body, evidence-based practice, diagnostic imaging, musculoskeletal and neurological patient management, physical therapist interventions and clinical internships. The program utilizes a team based approach and students develop professional collaborations with colleagues in the medical and nursing schools and those in the physician assistant program.
Established in 1943 to provide care for wounded WWII soldiers, the physical therapy program at Duke was founded by physical therapist Helen Kaiser. The DPT degree was approved in 1998 and admits approximately 200 students each year. Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, has long been recognized by U.S. News and World Report’s annual college and university rankings, most recently #8 in Regional Universities, #3 Best Colleges for Veterans, #12 Most Innovative Schools and #8 Best Value Schools.
Program Length: 122 Credit Hours
Estimated Total Tuition Cost: $105,000
25. University of Indianapolis
Through its Krannert School of Physical Therapy, UI offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which is CAPTE accredited and ranks in the top 100 of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Programs. Offering two elective tracks, in Professional Development and Research, the DPT student will study anatomy, movement science, clinical medicine, applied neuroscience and clinical skills. Studies also include work in examination and intervention of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions.
The University of Indianapolis started in 1902 and has grown to 100 undergraduate and 33 masters degree programs. Producing more physical therapists than any university in the state, the physical therapy department is one of the largest in the university; and, has received the Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Length of Program: 115 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $106,602
26. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
U.S. News and World Report ranks this School of Health Professions #53 in its Best Physical Therapy Programs. CAPTE accredited, this program provides a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree follows the educational standards of other physical therapy programs. Students will examine topics in physiology, functional and gross anatomy, pathophysiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, exercise physiology, diagnosis differential, professional projects and clinical experiences. This three-year entry level program is offered on three TTUHS campuses in Lubbock, Amarillo and Odessa, Texas.
Established in 1983, the School of Health Professions, currently has an enrollment of 1400 students enrolled in nineteen separate graduate and undergraduate programs. The school boasts a 96% firs-time licensure rate for students sitting for national and state boards.
Program Length: 111 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $107,115
27. Elon University
This North Carolina University offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy CAPTE program. The program, in collaboration with Alamance Regional Medical Center, has offered the DPT degree since replacing the Masters of Physical Therapy in 2003. The curriculum is designed in a modular method with the first year dedicated to didactic studies in anatomy, psychological aspects of care, physical therapy sciences and health care systems. The second year focuses on topics such as neuroscience, neuromuscular disorders management and a clinical practicum. The final year will concentrate on subjects such as clinical internship, management of the pediatric and geriatric patient and research.
Ranked #53 by U.S. News and World Report, the DPT at Elon University is CAPTE accredited. Located in Elon, North Carolina in the Piedmont Triangle, the university was established in 1889. Currently with a student enrollment over 6,700, the school is a public institution which ranks #1 in U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges, #8 by the U.S. State Department for Fulbright Scholars students and #1 Best Run Schools by The Princeton Review.
Program Length: 161 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $110,376
28. Northwestern University Bouvé School of Medicine
Northwestern University provides an entry level Doctor of Physical Education degree; as well, as a Post Baccalaureate Doctor of Physical Therapy (for those with a BS in another discipline) and a Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (for currently licensed physical therapists). Each degree has a different curricula based on the applicant’s educational level and needs. All DPT tracks will study Leadership, Orthopaedics, Education, Geriatrics, Pediatrics
Women’s Health and Urban Health. The entry level and post baccalaureate DPT are four year programs and the transitional DPT is an online program.
Ranked #6 in Best Physical Therapy Programs by U.S. News and World report, the DPT programs at Northwestern University are CAPTE accredited. The program dates to 1915 during World War I to provide physical therapists in Army hospitals. Northwestern University, located outside of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois, is ranked #12 in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities and #18 in Best Value Schools.
Length of Program: 126 Credit Hours (Entry Level)
105 Credit Hours (Post Baccalaureate); 26 Hours (Transitional)
Estimated Tuition Cost: $174,888 (Entry Level); $145,740 (Post Baccalaureate); $16,796 (Transitional)
29. Creighton University
Creighton University, in Omaha, Nebraska, provides a CAPTE accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy program through its School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. Courses examine basic sciences in anatomy, kinesiology, neurobiology and cell biology; as well as study in musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary and integumentary systems. The program has a fulltime professional experience and clinical experience.
Creighton University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and received multiple rankings as a #1 Regional Universities, #1 Best College for Veterans, #3 Most Innovative and #15 Best Physical Therapy Programs rating from U.S. News and World Report. Creighton University is a private Jesuit institution which was founded in 1878. The Creighton College of Pharmacy was established in 1905 and has expanded over the years to include other health professions such as physical and occupational therapy and emergency medical services.
Program Length: 135 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $114,750
30. University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
This is Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree concentrates on four areas: clinical science, basic science, critical inquiry and leadership/personal development. A three year program, students will complete clinical experiences beginning with the second semester and a year long internship (during which, the student receives a monthly scholarship). Accredited by The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) this program was given the U.S. News and World Report #1 Best Physical Therapy Programs ranking.
The University of Pittsburgh, was founded in 1787 as the Pittsburgh Academy and the physical therapy program is one of the oldest in the nation, having been started in 1927 and has been offering the MS in Physical Therapy since 1989.
Program Length: 123 Credit Hours
Estimated Total Tuition Cost: $119,358 (Resident); $136,773 (Non Resident)