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2022 Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California

17 Ranked Colleges
1,587 Degrees Awarded
$27,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 13,134 people earned their degree in physical therapy/therapist, making the major the 59th most popular in the United States.

Across California, there were 1,592 physical therapy/therapist graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,587 physical therapy/therapist graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking looked at 17 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in physical therapy/therapist. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality physical therapy/therapist programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the physical therapy/therapist program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california doctor’s degree physical therapy students.

Top 17 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Physical Therapy/Therapist in California

#1

University of California - San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - San Francisco. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California list. San Francisco, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s physical therapy degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

UCSF also took the #5 spot in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Francisco are $28,092.

Read more about Physical Therapy/Therapist at University of California - San Francisco

#13 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Long Beach landed the #2 spot on the list. California State University - Long Beach is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 36 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees in 2019-2020.

CSULB also made our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full California State University - Long Beach Physical Therapy/Therapist Report

#15 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Northridge landed the #3 spot on the list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 30 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree physical therapy students list, CSUN has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Therapy/Therapist at California State University - Northridge

#4

Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, California
#11 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mount Saint Mary’s University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California. Mount Saint Mary’s University is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees to qualified students.

MSMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at MSMU are $12,612, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Mount Saint Mary’s University Physical Therapy/Therapist Report

#5

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, San Diego State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s physical therapy students in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Therapy/Therapist at SDSU

#6

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California
#10 in overall quality

Azusa Pacific University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Azusa, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physical therapy degrees to 52 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Azusa Pacific, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific University are $16,571, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Azusa Pacific Physical Therapy/Therapist Report

#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, California State University - Fresno did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California list. California State University - Fresno is located in Fresno, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 30 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno State, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fresno are $17,581, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Physical Therapy/Therapist at California State University - Fresno

#8

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#14 in overall quality

San Francisco State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California list. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 33 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree physical therapy students list, SFSU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944.

Read full report on Physical Therapy/Therapist at San Francisco State University

#7 in overall quality

Western University of Health Sciences landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. This small school is located in Pomona, California, and it awarded 63 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees in 2019-2020.

Western University of Health Sciences not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Western University of Health Sciences are $23,596.

Read full report on Physical Therapy/Therapist at Western University of Health Sciences

#4 in overall quality

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #10. Located in San Marcos, California, this small private for-profit school awarded 791 degrees to qualified doctorate’s physical therapy students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USAHS, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USAHS are $26,450.

Read more about Physical Therapy/Therapist at USAHS

#11

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda, California
#3 in overall quality

Loma Linda University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Loma Linda University is located in Loma Linda, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 87 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees to qualified students.

Loma Linda University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loma Linda University are $30,640, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Physical Therapy/Therapist at Loma Linda University

#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 32 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Sac State, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356.

Read more about Physical Therapy/Therapist at Sac State

#6 in overall quality

West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California list. West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies is a small private for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 36 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree physical therapy students list, West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies are $30,008.

Read full report on Physical Therapy/Therapist at West Coast University-Center for Graduate Studies

#14

Chapman University

Orange, California
#12 in overall quality

Chapman University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Chapman University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Orange, California. It awarded 86 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees in 2019-2020.

Chapman did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Chapman are $35,105.

Read full report on Physical Therapy/Therapist at Chapman

#15

Samuel Merritt University

Oakland, California
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Samuel Merritt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Samuel Merritt University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Oakland, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 70 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Samuel Merritt University also made our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Samuel Merritt University are $53,468, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physical Therapy/Therapist at Samuel Merritt University

#16

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California
#1 in overall quality

University of Southern California ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 106 doctorate’s physical therapy degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also took the #1 spot in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715.

Read full report on Physical Therapy/Therapist at USC

#17

University of the Pacific

Stockton, California
#8 in overall quality

University of the Pacific came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Physical Therapy Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Stockton, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s physical therapy degrees to 36 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pacific, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of the Pacific are $49,374, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Physical Therapy/Therapist at Pacific

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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