Investing in a degree and professional training will set you up for a successful career. But more than ever, it’s important to weigh the costs and benefits of this investment. Plan for your academic future by identifying initial costs, deciding how to fund your education, and calculating your return on investment (both salary and job satisfaction).
If you are considering a career as a Physical Therapist (PT), you need to know how much PT school costs. Let’s take a look at the costs and compare the benefits.
What degree is required to become a PT?
To pursue a professional career as a PT, a PhD is required. Alternatively, you may pursue undergraduate or master’s level training that prepares you for a career as a PT aide or assistant, or a non-practical career in PT administration or administration.
To become a physical therapist, you must complete a physical therapist (DPT) program at an accredited university.
How much does it cost to complete a DPT degree?
It’s impossible to come up with a single price tag for a DPT degree, but there are many factors to consider. These include the type of school you choose, your residency status, your specific tuition fees, and your program combination. Then there are ancillary housing, books, and living expenses specific to the city you live in.
but Physical Therapy Education Accreditation Board (CAPTE) publishes aggregate data to help answer the question, “How much does physical therapy school cost?”1 According to CAPTE’s 2021 Fact Sheet, the ranges for annual tuition and total program costs for in-state public schools, out-of-state public schools, and private schools are:
- State public: Annual tuition fees range from $4,232 to $91,842.Total cost $24,758 to $120,743
- Out-of-state public: Annual tuition fees range from $10,578 to $122,200.Total cost $32,606 to $217,728
- private: Annual tuition fees range from $22,985 to $122,550.Total cost between $47,223 and $194,516
The total cost above includes the average cost of books, student and laboratory costs, and other necessary expenses, but excludes room and board.
additional cost
The DPT program requires face-to-face, hands-on learning. Therefore, it is not a degree that can be completed online only.
There are programs such as the Flex Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program that allow you to continue working by restructuring clinical hours and face-to-face courses into weekends. We recommend that you live close to campus or consider the following additional costs:
How to fund DPT
You don’t necessarily have to pay the full amount up front. Not all programs are eligible for government grants or scholarships, but most students are able to combine funding sources. Depending on the PT school you choose, you may be able to take advantage of:
That said, if you are considering a DPT program, check your school’s specific financial assistance options. Most schools have dedicated financial aid offices to help identify and apply for aid.
What is the annual salary of a physical therapist?
In addition to considering the cost of physical therapy school, you should also consider your income as a PT. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), PT’s job openings will increase by 17% between now and 2031, resulting in about 15,400 job openings per year.2 This is significantly higher than the average projected growth rate of 5% for all occupations over the same time frame.
national average salary
In 2021, the median annual salary for US PTs was $95,620.2 Years of experience and seniority are also important factors.
Average salary by region
Salaries vary by both city and state and are adjusted based on the desirability of the city and whether the setting is urban or rural.
Here are the average PT salaries in the top states:
- Nevada: Average income $104,210Five
- California: Average income $103,510Five
- Connecticut: Average income $101,180Five
- Delaware: Average income $100,490Five
- New Jersey: Average salary $99,530Five
Nine of the top 10 metropolitan areas are in California or Nevada, with salaries between $109,650 and $123,190.
Consider the cost of living if you are looking for a job based on an average salary. You may be able to get more disposable income in a low-cost city or state with low wages. We have a cost of living calculator to help you understand how much your expected salary will help you.
Average salary by job setting
In addition to geographic location, what is your ideal industry or work environment? In many cases, working in specialty hospitals can increase wages.3
In addition to completing a residency program or fellowship in an advanced clinical area, you can also earn certification in 10 specialties, according to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).2
- cardiovascular and pulmonary
- clinical electrophysiology
- geriatrics
- neurology
- oncology
- orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- sports
- women’s health
- wound management
For even greater earning potential, apply for the highest paying PT positions at:6
- Outpatient Center: Average Annual Wage $111,410
- Home health care services: Average Annual Wage $105,510
- Childcare service: Average Annual Wage $102,050
- Municipalities (excluding schools and hospitals): Average Annual Wage $101,290
- nursing home: Average Annual Wage $100,760
Other PT roles include becoming a traveling physical therapist, working in physical therapy administration, policy development, or education, or starting your own physical therapy practice.
How many years does it take to become a physical therapist?
A significant part of the investment is program time. How much time will you spend studying physical therapy?
Most doctoral PT programs take about three to four years to complete, depending on your individual progress. To become a physical therapist, you need to:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree and complete relevant pre-physiotherapy courses
- Check college admission requirements, such as obtaining a GRE and meeting all prerequisites
- Graduated from the Certified Physical Therapist (DPT) Program
- Pass the national examination and obtain a business license
That said, if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in line with a career in physical therapy, such as exercise science, biology, psychology, or kinesiology, you may need to take some preparatory courses. Prerequisite courses often include:6:
- anatomy in the lab
- physiology in the laboratory
- Biology (basic and advanced)
- General chemistry (basic and advanced) with lab
- General physics in the lab (basic and advanced)
- psychology
- statistics
DPT programs typically take about three to four years, if you follow the most common path of first completing a four-year bachelor’s degree. However, there are multiple routes to becoming a physical therapist via St. Augustine College, adding or subtracting hours.
- Residential DPT – Students earn 131 credits in eight semesters. This will take about 2.7 years.
- Flex DPT – Students earn 131 credits in 12 hours. This will take about 4 years.
Start your physical therapy journey today
Earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from one of the largest colleges of physical therapy in the United States. Undergraduate practitioner.
Our program provides high-tech tools to help you learn the intricacies of anatomy and prepares you for hands-on clinical practice with a wide range of patients and a state-of-the-art simulation center. It also prepares you for advanced roles in leadership practice and policy making.
Choose from a residential program (mixed lecture course and face-to-face weekday labs) or Flex format (online courses and face-to-face weekend labs).
Get answers to your questions about physical therapy, including how many schools there are for physical therapists and where they can work.
*Based on total DPT degrees awarded. Integrated higher education data system (IPEDS). Data are obtained by IPEDS through correlative surveys conducted annually by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
sauce:
- Commission for Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). “2021 Physical Therapist Education Program Fact Sheet”Aggregation of program data, Last updated in 2021.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physical Therapist” vocational handbook, Last updated September 2022,
- PayScale, “Average Physical Therapist (PT) Salary,” last updated October 2022,
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “29-1123 Physiotherapist” Occupational Employment and Wages, last updated May 2021,
- American Physical Therapy Association, “Certified Specialist,” Last Updated 2022,
- Veronica Wickline, “How to Become a Physical Therapist: Steps From High School” college vine, Last updated November 2019,
