2027 Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Southeast Region
Physical Therapy/Therapist degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 69 schools to find the best for physical therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Physical Therapy/Therapist in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall physical therapy/therapist education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Physical Therapy/Therapist
Leading the list is Duke University, our #1 school for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 97% of students complete a degree within six years here. Duke University awarded about 98 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Duke University earn a median of $68,778 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical therapy/therapist program at Duke University
Students looking for a strong physical therapy/therapist program will find one at Samford University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Birmingham, Samford University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Samford University graduates 77% of students within six years. About 38 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Samford University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Samford University generally make around $74,311. Samford University graduates carry a median of $21,039 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from Samford University
A rank of #3 makes Belmont University one of the top schools for physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Nashville, Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. About 70% of students finish within six years. Belmont University awarded about 54 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from Belmont University earn around $73,552 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,447.
More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from Belmont University
The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Memphis, The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 46 physical therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center generally make around $71,678. The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center graduates carry a median of $25,679 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from The University Of Tennessee Health Science Center
University Of Florida is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in physical therapy/therapist, ranking #5. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 72 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $74,189 early in their careers. University Of Florida graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
See the full physical therapy/therapist program report for University Of Florida
Bellarmine University earned the #6 position for physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Bellarmine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 64% of students finish within six years. About 72 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Bellarmine University in the most recent year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Bellarmine University earn a median of $73,964 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,766 to complete this degree.
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High Point University placed #7 among the best physical therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at High Point University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from High Point University generally make around $113,352. High Point University graduates carry a median of $23,785 in student loans.
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University Of Miami came in at #8 for physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. There were roughly 66 physical therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at University Of Miami in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from University Of Miami earn around $73,125 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
Read more about the physical therapy/therapist program at University Of Miami
Emory University landed the #9 spot for physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 52 physical therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Emory University in the most recent data year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Emory University earn a median of $71,789 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete this degree.
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Marymount University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best physical therapy/therapist schools. Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Arlington. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Marymount University awarded about 37 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Marymount University earn a median of $76,183 early in their careers. Marymount University graduates carry a median of $26,880 in student loans.
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Mercer University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best physical therapy/therapist schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Macon. About 70% of students finish within six years. Mercer University awarded about 36 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Mercer University earn a median of $74,161 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $32,463.
See the full physical therapy/therapist program report for Mercer University
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best physical therapy/therapist schools. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 33 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical therapy/therapist program make about $58,000 in their early career. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans.
See the full physical therapy/therapist program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
Wingate University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best physical therapy/therapist schools. Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 42 physical therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Wingate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from Wingate University earn around $73,520 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,556.
More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from Wingate University
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #14 spot for physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. About 51 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn around $72,211 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,162.
More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from University Of Alabama At Birmingham
Shenandoah University placed #15 among the best physical therapy/therapist schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winchester. Shenandoah University graduates 66% of students within six years. About 67 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Shenandoah University in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical therapy/therapist program make about $73,888 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,005.
Read more about the physical therapy/therapist program at Shenandoah University
University Of North Florida placed #16 among the best physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a large public institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 29 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at University Of North Florida in the most recent year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of North Florida earn a median of $75,760 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $18,523.
More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from University Of North Florida
The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga landed the #17 spot for physical therapy/therapist this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chattanooga. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 34 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga in the most recent year. Graduates of the physical therapy/therapist program make about $72,301 in their early career. The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga graduates carry a median of $23,324 in student loans.
More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga
Lincoln Memorial University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best physical therapy/therapist schools. Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Harrogate. About 47% of students finish within six years. Lincoln Memorial University awarded about 52 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Lincoln Memorial University generally make around $64,307. Students borrow a median of $20,693 to complete this degree.
Read more about the physical therapy/therapist program at Lincoln Memorial University
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans is a mid-sized public institution. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans awarded about 33 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans earn a median of $69,715 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,146 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans
Medical University Of South Carolina earned the #20 position for physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Charleston, Medical University Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public institution. About 69 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Medical University Of South Carolina in the most recent year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Medical University Of South Carolina earn a median of $70,205 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $29,043 to complete this degree.
See the full physical therapy/therapist program report for Medical University Of South Carolina
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #21 for physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 59 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $62,881 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,813.
Read more about the physical therapy/therapist program at Virginia Commonwealth University
Elon University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best physical therapy/therapist schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. Elon University awarded about 43 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from Elon University earn around $74,620 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,619 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from Elon University
Florida International University landed the #23 spot for physical therapy/therapist this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Miami. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Florida International University awarded about 63 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $63,249. Typical student debt for the program is $19,349.
See the full physical therapy/therapist program report for Florida International University
Lynchburg College came in at #24 for physical therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Lynchburg College in the most recent year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of Lynchburg College earn a median of $107,159 early in their careers.
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Florida Southern College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best physical therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Lakeland, Florida Southern College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Florida Southern College graduates 70% of students within six years. About 33 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Florida Southern College in the most recent year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from Florida Southern College earn around $48,665 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,357 to complete this degree.
Get the full physical therapy/therapist details for Florida Southern College
Rest of the Top 50 Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s physical therapy/therapist ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 69 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.