by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 360 U.S. colleges awarded 5,489 degrees and certificates in Physical Therapy Assistant. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 94% of graduates. College Factual ranks 256 schools in its 2027 Best Physical Therapy Assistant Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing, rising to $35,634 after four years.
Studying Physical Therapy Assistant covers Physical Therapy Assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of A Physical Therapist, To Implement Physical Therapy Treatment Care Plans, Train Patients, Conduct Treatment Interventions, Use Equipment, And Observe And Record Patient Progress. Includes Instruction In Applied Anatomy And Physiology, Behavioral Sciences, Biomechanics, Clinical Documentation, Clinical Pathology, Communication, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, Neuroscience, And Professional Standards And Ethics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., physical therapy assistant draws strong interest, with 5,489 degrees awarded annually. 360 colleges award physical therapy assistant degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 78.
By level, the 5,489 awards include 201 certificates, 5,137 associate degrees, 78 bachelor’s degrees and 73 master’s degrees.
Women earned 63% of physical therapy assistant degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,440 of 5,489). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,100) and Hispanic or Latino (1,227), and international students earned 23.
College Factual ranks 256 schools in its 2027 Best Physical Therapy Assistant Schools ranking, including 247 for associate degrees and 2 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks physical therapy assistant schools within 46 states. In all, 360 colleges offer physical therapy assistant programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Physical Therapy Assistant Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common physical therapy assistant credential is the associate degree: 5,137 of the 5,489 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to physical therapy assistant call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Monitoring, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Therapy and Counseling and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a physical therapy assistant degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 201 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,137 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 78 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 73 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to physical therapy assistant, at 84.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 84.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.9% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Physical Therapy Assistant, with an average median salary of $29,340. Typical job titles include Nursing Facility PTA (Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistant), Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA), Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant and Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA).
The occupation related to physical therapy assistant with the most projected jobs is Physical Therapist Assistants, at 401,082.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 401,082 | -1.6% |
Physical Therapy Assistant graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing their program, $35,634 after four years and $32,689 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,519 |
| 4 years | $35,634 |
| 5 years | $32,689 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to physical therapy assistant, with a median salary of $29,340.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $29,340 |
Physical Therapy Assistant has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 78,826 degrees a year; the largest are Medical/Clinical Assistant (55,276), Pharmacy Technician/Assistant (8,060) and Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other (4,386). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 55,276 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 8,060 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,386 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 4,277 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 3,204 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,676 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 663 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | 497 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 304 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 258 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
