by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2024, College Factual analyzed 243 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 13,145 doctor's degrees in physical therapy/therapist during the 2020-2021 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The physical therapy doctor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality physical therapy program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we include a college's overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for physical therapy/therapist students working on their doctor's degree.
The physical therapy school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor's Degree Schools.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a doctor's degree in physical therapy/therapist. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Every student pursuing a degree in a doctor's degree in physical therapy/therapist needs to take a look at University of Southern California. Located in the city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Southern California
It is hard to beat University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in physical therapy/therapist. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, USAHS is a private for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
It's difficult to beat Samuel Merritt University if you want to pursue a doctor's degree in physical therapy/therapist. Samuel Merritt University is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of Oakland.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Samuel Merritt University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a great option for students interested in a doctor's degree in physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Lubbock, TTUHSC is a public university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
NYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of New York.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from New York University
Located in the small city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Northwestern University
A T Still University of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university located in the town of Kirksville.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from A T Still University of Health Sciences
Located in the large city of San Antonio, UT Health San Antonio is a public university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
UTMB Galveston is a small public university located in the town of Galveston.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from The University of Texas Medical Branch
Located in the city of Los Angeles, West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies is a private for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies
Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Philadelphia.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Thomas Jefferson University
Located in the large city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Boston University
Loma Linda University is a small private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Loma Linda.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Loma Linda University
Columbia is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of New York.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Columbia University in the City of New York
UW - Madison is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Madison.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Wisconsin - Madison
MUSC is a small public university located in the medium-sized city of Charleston.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Medical University of South Carolina
Located in the city of Las Vegas, UNLV is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Nevada - Las Vegas
WUSTL is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Saint Louis.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Washington University in St Louis
UF is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Florida
RMUoHP is a small private for-profit university located in the city of Provo.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
UW Seattle is a very large public university located in the large city of Seattle.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Midwestern University - Downers Grove is a small private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Downers Grove.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Midwestern University - Downers Grove
Pitt is a very large public university located in the large city of Pittsburgh.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus
Located in the small city of Winchester, Shenandoah is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Shenandoah University
Pacific is a small private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Forest Grove.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Pacific University
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL |
| 38 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS |
| 39 | Arcadia University | Glenside, PA |
| 40 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN |
| 41 | University of Scranton | Scranton, PA |
| 41 | University of the Sciences | Philadelphia, PA |
| 42 | Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 43 | Emory University | Atlanta, GA |
| 44 | Baylor University | Waco, TX |
| 45 | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 46 | George Washington University | Washington, DC |
| 47 | The College of Saint Scholastica | Duluth, MN |
| 48 | Belmont University | Nashville, TN |
View the Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
One of 16 majors within the Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions area of study, Physical Therapy/Therapist has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy | 1,993 |
| Rehabilitation Science | 54 |
| Other Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 31 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling | 19 |
| Art Therapy | 6 |
| Music Therapy | 1 |
