Physical Therapist School Cost

• A master of physical therapy takes two to three years to complete, and a doctorate takes three to four years to complete. Most programs expect fulltime enrollment.
• Most schools offer only doctoral degrees. Some schools, such as Arkansas State University, continue to offer a master's degree. Tuition for the 2.5-year master's of physical therapy totals about $12,500 for state residents and $32,000 for out-of-state students.
• Tuition at private schools can cost significantly more. The University of Southern California charges $75,000 for its 3-year doctorate program.
• Many state universities offer doctorates in physical therapy as well, sometimes at half the price of private universities. The doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, for example, costs $35,000. However, for out-of-state students, costs can be comparable to private universities. The University of Delaware, for example, charges a total of $28,871 for in-state residents enrolled in their 2.5-year doctor of physical therapy program, but out-of-state students pay $75,156 for the same program.
• Certification for physical therapists requires the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy exam, which costs $350.

• Physical therapists can be general practitioners, or focus on one population (such as geriatric patients) or type of rehabilitation (such as cardiopulmonary). Typically physical therapists work with patients doing rehabilitative exercises or learning to use therapeutic equipment like crutches. Most physical therapists work in a clinical or hospital setting, but many also work in private practice, according to the federal government's Occupational Outlook Handbook.
• Coursework focused on anatomy and physiology is a standard component of master's and doctoral programs.
• Both master's and doctoral programs require clinical hours, such as internships at hospitals or in other clinical settings, in addition to coursework.
• All programs should prepare students to take required exams for certification in their home state.

• Cost of living varies by location and is typically listed on individual departments' websites along with tuition costs, such as this cost of living breakdown by Columbia University.
• Some states also expect students to take a state exam administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy for fees ranging from $30 -$50.

• Students in master's and doctoral programs are eligible for up to $20,500 in Stafford Loans annually, depending on their income level and other criteria as determined by the Federal Application for Student Financial Aid.
• Graduate students are also eligible for PLUS loans to assist with tuition and other education-related expenses.
• Some doctoral programs offer merit-based financial aid to students. Columbia University, for example, offers annual merit scholarships for students with an undergraduate GPA above 3.5.
• In addition to scholarship assistance, some doctoral programs also offer low-cost loans to doctoral students. Emory University, for example, offers doctoral candidates in physical therapy a loan with a low interest rate of 4.22%.
• Teaching assistantships, graduate research fellowships and residence assistantships are available to PT doctoral students at some universities, such as Boston University. These awards may come with full tuition remission and a stipend
• The American Association for Physical Therapists keeps a list of private scholarships available to doctoral candidates in physical therapy.

• The American Physical Therapy Association maintains a list of accredited schools in the United States. The APTA lists factors to consider in choosing a school. The APTA requires that schools meet accreditation requirements, but does not rank schools.
• U.S. News and World Report ranks doctoral programs in physical therapy.
• For more information about the certification exam, visit the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

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