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2025 Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor's Degree Schools

221 Colleges in the United States
13,307 Doctor's Degrees
Ranked #4 in popularity, physical therapy/therapist is one of the most sought-after doctor's degree programs in the nation. So, there are lots of possibilities to explore when you're trying to determine where you want to get your degree.

College Factual reviewed 221 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for doctor's degree seekers in the field of physical therapy/therapist. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 13,307 doctor's degrees in physical therapy/therapist during the <nil> academic year.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Physical Therapy/Therapist School for Your Doctor's Degree

Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor's Degree Schools 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:

Overall Quality Is a Must

A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking which itself looks at a collection of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our complete 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Physical Therapy Rankings Other Ranking Categories

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.

Best Schools for Doctorate Students to Study Physical Therapy/Therapist in the United States

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 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Doctorate in Physical Therapy

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
141 Annual Graduates

Any 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 fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Southern California

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
73 Annual Graduates

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is a good decision for students interested in a doctor's degree in physical therapy/therapist. TTUHSC is a small public university located in the city of Lubbock.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
48 Annual Graduates

It's hard 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

4
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
90 Annual Graduates

The University of Texas Medical Branch is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a doctor's degree in physical therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Galveston, UTMB Galveston is a public university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from The University of Texas Medical Branch

5
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, MA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
77 Annual Graduates

Located in the large city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Boston University

6
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
45 Annual Graduates

NYU 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 New York University

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
66 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Oklahoma City, UOHSC is a public university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
48 Annual Graduates

UW Seattle is a fairly 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

9
Tufts crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
80 Annual Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Medford, Tufts is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Tufts University

10
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
73 Annual Graduates

MGH Institute of Health Professions is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Boston.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from MGH Institute of Health Professions

11
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
85 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Creighton University

12
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, NC
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
92 Annual Graduates

Duke is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of Durham.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Duke University

13
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
94 Annual Graduates

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

14
Loma Linda University crest
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
113 Annual Graduates

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

15
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
48 Annual Graduates

Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Philadelphia.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Thomas Jefferson University

16
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
75 Annual Graduates

UF is a very large public university located in the city of Gainesville.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Florida

17
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
40 Annual Graduates

UW - Madison is a very large public university located in the city of Madison.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Wisconsin - Madison

18
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
33 Annual Graduates

MSMU is a small private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Mount Saint Mary’s University

19
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
42 Annual Graduates

Located in the 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

20
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
69 Annual Graduates

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

21
Shenandoah crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
73 Annual Graduates

Located in the 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

22
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
62 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of Boston, Northeastern is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Northeastern University

23
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
86 Annual Graduates

Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers New Brunswick is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Rutgers University - New Brunswick

24
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
88 Annual Graduates

Quinnipiac is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Hamden.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from Quinnipiac University

25
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
66 Annual Graduates

UMB is a moderately-sized public university located in the city of Baltimore.More information about a doctorate in physical therapy/therapist from University of Maryland - Baltimore

Rest of the Top Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor's Degree Schools

26
Duquesne crest
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
27
Marquette crest
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
28
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
29
Drexel crest
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
30
31
32
Temple crest
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

33

34
35
36
37
SUNY Stony Brook crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
38
Pacific crest
Pacific University
Forest Grove, OR
39
St. Joe's crest
Saint Joseph's University
Philadelphia, PA
40
NUS Florida crest
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL
41
SLU crest
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO

42

43
44
Arcadia crest
Arcadia University
Glenside, PA

Honorable Mentions

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
45 Emory University Atlanta, GA
46 Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA
47 Belmont University Nashville, TN
48 University of the Pacific Stockton, CA
49 University of Delaware Newark, DE
50 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
51 Concordia University, Wisconsin Mequon, WI
52 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA
53 Touro University Nevada Henderson, NV
54 University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY
55 Simmons University Boston, MA
56 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL
57 Baylor University Waco, TX
58 The University of Montana Missoula, MT
59 Texas Woman’s University Denton, TX
60 University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
61 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA
62 The University of Tennessee - Health Science Center Memphis, TN
63 University of Kansas Lawrence, KS
64 Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY
65 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT
66 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
67 Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT
68 University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL
69 Ithaca College Ithaca, NY
70 University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
71 University of Wisconsin - La Crosse La Crosse, WI
72 Gannon University Erie, PA
73 University of Nevada - Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV

Physical Therapy/Therapist by Region

View the Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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One of 16 majors within the Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions area of study, Physical Therapy/Therapist has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Physical Therapy

Related Major Annual Graduates
Occupational Therapy 3,503
Rehabilitation Science 70
Other Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions 26
Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling 13
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, General 7
Art Therapy 5
Music Therapy 2
Assistive/Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering 2

Notes and References

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