by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 277 U.S. colleges awarded 13,798 degrees and certificates in Physical Therapy/Therapist. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 95% of graduates. College Factual ranks 266 schools in its 2027 Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing, rising to $75,072 after four years.
A major in Physical Therapy/Therapist covers Physical Therapy/therapist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Evaluate, Examine, Diagnose, And Alleviate Physical Functional Impairments And Limitations Caused By Injury Or Disease Through The Design And Implementation Of Therapeutic Interventions To Promote Fitness And Health. Includes Instruction In Anatomy, Behavioral Sciences, Biology, Biomechanics, Biophysical Agents, Care Plan Development And Documentation, Cellular Histology, Clinical Evaluation And Measurement, Clinical Reasoning, Communication, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Pathology, Physiology, Professional Standards And Ethics, Rehabilitation Psychology, And Therapeutic Exercise. Examples: [Doctor Of Physical Therapy (Dpt)].
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/therapist is a widely-pursued major, with 13,798 degrees awarded annually. 277 colleges award physical therapy/therapist degrees, an average of 50 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 797.
By level, the 13,798 awards include 34 associate degrees, 153 bachelor’s degrees, 512 master’s degrees and 13,099 doctorates.
Women earned 62% of physical therapy/therapist degrees and certificates in the latest year (8,618 of 13,798). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (8,662) and Asian (1,475), and international students earned 255.
College Factual ranks 266 schools in its 2027 Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 42 for bachelor’s degrees, 106 for master’s degrees and 248 for doctorates. It also ranks physical therapy/therapist schools within 49 states. In all, 277 colleges offer physical therapy/therapist programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Physical Therapy/Therapist Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common physical therapy/therapist credential is the doctorate: 13,099 of the 13,798 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to physical therapy/therapist call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry, Education and Training and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a physical therapy/therapist degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 34 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 153 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 512 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13,099 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to physical therapy/therapist, at 39.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 39.3% |
| Master’s degree | 37.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Physical Therapy/Therapist, with an average median salary of $95,355; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Outpatient Travel Physical Therapist (Outpatient Travel PT), LPT (Licensed Physical Therapist), Travel Physical Therapist (Travel PT) and Outpatient Physical Therapist (Outpatient PT).
The occupation related to physical therapy/therapist with the most projected jobs is Physical Therapists, at 2,383,893.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapists | 2,383,893 | 8.0% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Physical Therapy/Therapist graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing their program, $75,072 after four years and $74,465 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $66,380 |
| 4 years | $75,072 |
| 5 years | $74,465 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to physical therapy/therapist, with a median salary of $144,047.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapists | $144,047 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Physical Therapy/Therapist has 15 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 15,108 degrees a year; the largest are Occupational Therapy/Therapist (9,835), Rehabilitation Science (1,028) and Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor (939). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy/Therapist | 9,835 |
| Rehabilitation Science | 1,028 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor | 939 |
| Art Therapy/Therapist | 686 |
| Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy | 640 |
| Music Therapy/Therapist | 639 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other | 582 |
| Orthotist/Prosthetist | 302 |
| Animal-Assisted Therapy | 115 |
| Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist | 96 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
