2026 Best Pre-Physical Therapy Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Pre-Physical Therapy Studies degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for pre-physical therapy studies students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Pre-Physical Therapy Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Best Schools for Pre-Physical Therapy Studies in the Great Lakes Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the pre-physical therapy studies degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Pre-Physical Therapy Studies

1

Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

24 Pre-Physical Therapy Studies Degrees Awarded

$54,785 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked Oakland University the best school in the country for a degree in pre-physical therapy studies. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Oakland University awarded about 24 pre-physical therapy studies degrees in the most recent data year. Pre-Physical Therapy Studies graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $54,785 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,972. Get the full pre-physical therapy studies details for Oakland University

2

University Of Akron Main Campus
Akron, OH

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

34 Pre-Physical Therapy Studies Degrees Awarded

$31,218 Median Starting Salary

University Of Akron Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in pre-physical therapy studies, ranking #2. University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Akron. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. There were roughly 34 pre-physical therapy studies students who graduated with this degree at University Of Akron Main Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pre-physical therapy studies degree from University Of Akron Main Campus earn around $31,218 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000. See the full pre-physical therapy studies program report for University Of Akron Main Campus

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 9 schools evaluated.

• 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.