Top Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Programs

Are you ready to begin a career in Physical Therapy? Want to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy from one of the best university or medical schools? Then you can explore our given list of Top Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs which we have compiled for you.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is a post-baccalaureate degree conferred upon successful completion of a doctoral level professional (entry-level) or post-professional education program. All U.S. physical therapy graduate schools now offer the DPT degree, with over 200 DPT programs available nationwide, to meet the newly reformed standards for PT education.

Through our methodology, you will find top-ranked college or institutes that offer excellent DPT Programs to help you in building your bright career. So start your searching for the top institute in the given list and choose the best one for your education in this renowned field. Good luck!!

The University of California-San Francisco

The UCSF Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science offer two graduate degrees in physical therapy: the entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and the post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Science (DPTSc). At the PT Department of UCSF, DPT program is designed to prepare scholarly clinicians, educators, collaborative clinical researchers, administrative managers and community leaders. The program admits 50 students each year. The Entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is a 3-year joint program between the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and San Francisco State University (SFSU). The UCSF/SFSU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program runs for 36 continuous months beginning in June and includes 34 weeks of full-time clinical affiliations.

Ranking: 1st
Tuition Approximately: $30,816 for resident & $43,427 for non-resident
Admission Office Contact: Phone: (415) 353-7598, Fax: (415) 353-9554, PTadmissions@ucsf.edu
Website: https://ptrehab.ucsf.edu/ucsfsfsu-doctor-physical-therapy-dpt

Texas Woman’s University

Texas Woman’s University offers one of the few entry-level DPT to Ph.D. fast-track programs in Texas, helping to meet the need for qualified physical therapy faculty. TWU has been a pioneer in educating physical therapists since the 1960s, advancing the practice and science of physical therapy through education, research, and service. The DPT program requires eight semesters of full-time graduate study over 33 months (including summers). The degree requires 98 credit hours to complete including 32 weeks of clinical experiences/rotations. Accredited by the Commission for Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE), the DPT program at TWU prepares students to take the National PT Exam and licensure in the State of Texas.

Ranking: 2nd
Tuition Approximately: $31,000 for residents and $66,000 for nonresidents
Admission Office Contact: 940-898-2000
Website: https://twu.edu/physical-therapy/graduate-programs/doctor-of-physical-therapy-dpt/

University of Oklahoma

At The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Allied Health, physical therapy services are provided in a variety of settings, including homes, schools, workplaces, outpatient clinics, and hospitals. The professional program consists of 108 semester hours of sequenced and integrated didactic and clinical courses. All didactic course work is offered on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. This program begins in the summer of every year. Graduates of the program receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree and are eligible to sit for the national licensure examination upon meeting state licensure requirements. To be considered for admission, applicants must earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrollment in the program.

Ranking: 3rd
Tuition Approximately: $4,950.40 for residents & $6,348 for nonresidents (per semester)
Admission Office Contact: (405) 271-2118
Website: http://alliedhealth.ouhsc.edu/ProspectiveStudents/AcademicPrograms/DoctorofPhysicalTherapy(DPT).aspx

University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)

The College of Allied Health Professions at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) offers a program leading to the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. The program requires a bachelor’s degree prior to admission to the three-year professional program at UNMC. The Division of Physical Therapy Education, established at UNMC in 1970, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and approved by the Nebraska Department of Education. This program consists minimally of a 4-year course of study. Prospective applicants to this program are expected to secure funding to cover the full cost of the program (4 year’s tuition & fees, books, room & board, etc.) before beginning. Students in the Division of Physical Therapy Education at UNMC receive a comprehensive entry-level education in a program that includes didactic and clinical coursework, including full-time clinical experience. Upon graduation, students qualify to sit for the licensure examination.

Ranking: 4th
Tuition Approximately: NA
Admission Office Contact: 402-559-4000
Website: https://www.unmc.edu/aprdp/csc/professional-degree/physical-therapy/index.html

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

Virginia Commonwealth University offers one of the premiers Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs in the country. VCU’s Department of Physical Therapy offers a three-year degree program leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy. The Department serves the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation by providing educational programs related to physical therapy. The department provides an environment that encourages education through problem-solving, free inquiry, professional behavior, and scholarship. The department’s primary focus is to prepare individuals for general physical therapy practice.

Ranking: 5th
Tuition Approximately: In state $5,292 per semester & Out-of-state $10,388 per semester.
Admission Office Contact: (804) 828-0100, bulletin@vcu.edu
Website: http://bulletin.vcu.edu/graduate/school-allied-health-professions/physical-therapy/physical-therapy-dpt/

University of Illinois-Chicago

It’s never too early to start planning. The UIC Department of Physical Therapy looks for well-qualified students with talents and backgrounds that bring diversity to their program. Give yourself the best chance of joining their program by doing your research and putting your best application forward. The DPT is the entry-level degree for people who want to become physical therapists. At the University, students complete eight terms (33 months) of didactic and clinical education that includes lecture courses, laboratory courses, seminars, and clinical internships. The UIC students have access to the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) and a world-class faculty in all major physical therapy specialties, including researchers with labs on campus. Additionally, you can develop your clinical interests further by pursuing electives and courses in areas such as gait, pediatrics, gender health, and sports physical therapy.

Ranking: 6th
Tuition Approximately: In state $20,505 & Out-of-state $25,000
Admission Office Contact: 312-996-6695, ahsinfo@uic.edu
Website: https://ahs.uic.edu/physical-therapy/admissions-and-programs/doctor-of-physical-therapy/

University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health

The UW-Madison Physical Therapy Program was founded in 1926. In 1929, it became one of the first three physical therapy curricula in the United States to receive accreditation from the American Physical Therapy Association. Including summers, the program is a three-year, free-standing program in the School of Medicine and Public Health, which offers a professional doctor of physical therapy degree. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, they prepare students to enter the workforce as generalist practitioners, equipped to provide inter-professional, evidence-based, quality care through the roles of clinician, educator, researcher, administrator, and consultant. Their program provides a welcoming, collaborative environment, which offers an integrative, team-taught curriculum bolstered by an emphasis on leadership, service and professional behaviors.

Ranking: 7th
Tuition Approximately: $31,429 for in-state and $42,285 for out-of-state
Admission Office Contact: (608) 263-4900, (608) 263-4925 or medadmissions@med.wisc.edu
Website: https://www.med.wisc.edu/education/physical-therapy-program/

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

The University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program offers a graduate professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. The program designed to follow the completion of a four-year bachelor’s degree or post-baccalaureate degree. The DPT degree requires completion of 2.5 years of study (8 semesters), 116 credit hours, and 38 weeks of clinical experiences. The UC Physical Therapy Program has established scholarships to reduce the financial burden for prospective candidates. The Program prepares students to develop into competent physical therapists capable of assuming roles as clinical practitioners, educators, scholars/researchers, administrators, consultants, and advocates. The curriculum provides unique opportunities for students throughout the 3 years. Courses include both didactic (classroom) and laboratory (hands-on) learning in addition to independent study.

Ranking: 8th
Tuition Approximately: Residents $501 per credit hour & Non-Residents $1049 per credit hour
Admission Office Contact: Lauren Hugunin at (303) 724-9144 or Lauren.Hugunin@ucdenver.edu​
Website: http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/education/degree_programs/pt/EducationPrograms/DPT/Pages/Doctor%20of%20Physical%20Therapy.aspx

University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences

The University of Kentucky (UK) offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) entry-level curriculum. Students may enter the program following completion of University and professional program required courses. Students not entering with a bachelor’s degree must be from the University of Kentucky and have completed at least 108 hours and have their UK Core completed. Once accepted, the professional phase requires nine continuous semesters of class work (approximately 137 semester hours). To be considered for admission to the Professional Program in Physical Therapy, you must complete the application procedure for the PT Division’s Professional Program. For future physical therapy practitioners, DPT education will provide a greater scope, rigor, depth, breadth, and length of preparation to facilitate a high level of practice upon graduation.

Ranking: 9th
Tuition Approximately: Resident – $20,618 per year & Non-resident – $45,075 per year
Admission Office Contact: (859) 323-1100
Website: https://www.uky.edu/chs/pt/programs-study/doctor-physical-therapy

University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

The Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences at University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine offers a unique learning environment in a leading medical education center. They offer a highly ranked Doctoral of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) and a research-intensive MA/ Ph.D. degree in Rehabilitation Science since 1972. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Iowa is a graduate degree and is not offered as an undergraduate major. However, undergraduate students can designate themselves as pre-physical therapy students in order to receive specialized advising and coursework in preparation for applying to the DPT program.

Ranking: 10th
Tuition Approximately: Resident – $7,958 & Non-resident – $16,608
Admission Office Contact: 319-335-9791, Fax: 319-335-9707, physical-therapy@uiowa.edu
Website: https://medicine.uiowa.edu/pt/