Best Physical Therapy Schools in the World

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Physical Therapy. A graph of 97.4M citations received by 3.32M academic papers made by 3,992 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

United States Flag

United States | Massachusetts

For Physical Therapy

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Physical Therapy

#2 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

3. University of Washington - Seattle

United States Flag

United States | Washington

For Physical Therapy

#3 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

4. University College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

5. Johns Hopkins University

United States Flag

United States | Maryland

For Physical Therapy

#4 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

6. University of Pittsburgh

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Physical Therapy

#5 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

7. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Physical Therapy

#1 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States Flag

United States | Michigan

For Physical Therapy

#6 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

9. Stanford University

United States Flag

United States | California

For Physical Therapy

#7 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

10. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Physical Therapy

#2 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

11. Karolinska Institute

Sweden | Stockholm

For Physical Therapy

#2 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 8,070
Founded: 1861

12. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Physical Therapy

#8 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

13. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Physical Therapy

#9 in North America

#3 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

14. University of California - San Francisco

United States Flag

United States | California

For Physical Therapy

#10 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

15. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Physical Therapy

#11 in North America

#4 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

16. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Physical Therapy

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 97,964
Founded: 1827

17. University of Florida

United States Flag

United States | Florida

For Physical Therapy

#12 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

18. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States Flag

United States | North Carolina

For Physical Therapy

#13 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

19. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Physical Therapy

#3 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

20. University of Oxford

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#4 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

21. Northwestern University

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Physical Therapy

#14 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

22. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Physical Therapy

#5 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

23. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Physical Therapy

#3 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 77,162
Founded: 1853

24. University of Pennsylvania

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Physical Therapy

#15 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

25. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States Flag

United States | Minnesota

For Physical Therapy

#16 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

26. University of California - Los Angeles

United States Flag

United States | California

For Physical Therapy

#17 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

27. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States Flag

United States | Wisconsin

For Physical Therapy

#18 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

28. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Physical Therapy

#19 in North America

#5 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

29. Radboud University

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Nijmegen

For Physical Therapy

#6 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Founded: 1923

30. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States Flag

United States | Minnesota

For Physical Therapy

#20 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

31. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Physical Therapy

#21 in North America

#6 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

32. Yale University

United States Flag

United States | Connecticut

For Physical Therapy

#22 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

33. Boston University

United States Flag

United States | Massachusetts

For Physical Therapy

#23 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

34. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Physical Therapy

#24 in North America

#7 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

35. Columbia University

United States Flag

United States | New York State

For Physical Therapy

#25 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

36. University of California-San Diego

United States Flag

United States | California

For Physical Therapy

#26 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

37. Ohio State University

United States Flag

United States | Ohio

For Physical Therapy

#27 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

38. Lund University

For Physical Therapy

#7 in Europe

#2 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

39. Washington University in St Louis

United States Flag

United States | Missouri

For Physical Therapy

#28 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

40. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States Flag

United States | Alabama

For Physical Therapy

#29 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

41. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Physical Therapy

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 63,864
Founded: 1949

42. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Physical Therapy

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

43. Maastricht University

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Maastricht

For Physical Therapy

#8 in Europe

#2 in the Netherlands

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1976

44. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Physical Therapy

#30 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

45. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Physical Therapy

#31 in North America

#8 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

46. University of Utah

United States Flag

United States | Utah

For Physical Therapy

#32 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

47. University of Iowa

United States Flag

United States | Iowa State

For Physical Therapy

#33 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

48. Duke University

United States Flag

United States | North Carolina

For Physical Therapy

#34 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

49. King's College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#9 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1829

50. Cornell University

United States Flag

United States | New York State

For Physical Therapy

#35 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

51. Free University Amsterdam

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Physical Therapy

#10 in Europe

#3 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1880

52. Pennsylvania State University

United States Flag

United States | Pennsylvania

For Physical Therapy

#36 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

53. University of Southern California

United States Flag

United States | California

For Physical Therapy

#37 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

54. Oregon Health & Science University

United States Flag

United States | Oregon

For Physical Therapy

#38 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

55. Emory University

United States Flag

United States | Georgia

For Physical Therapy

#39 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

56. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States Flag

United States | Maryland

For Physical Therapy

#40 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

57. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Physical Therapy

#41 in North America

#9 in Canada

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

58. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Physical Therapy

#42 in North America

#10 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 35,612
Founded: 1841

59. University of Groningen

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Groningen

For Physical Therapy

#11 in Europe

#4 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 34,000
Founded: 1614

60. University of Manchester

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#12 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

61. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States Flag

United States | Illinois

For Physical Therapy

#43 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

62. Baylor College of Medicine

United States Flag

United States | Texas

For Physical Therapy

#44 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

63. Case Western Reserve University

United States Flag

United States | Ohio

For Physical Therapy

#45 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

64. University of Birmingham

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#13 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1900

65. Imperial College London

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#14 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

66. Heidelberg University - Germany

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Physical Therapy

#15 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 28,413
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1386

67. La Trobe University

Australia | Melbourne

For Physical Therapy

#6 in Australia

Enrollment: 7,500
Founded: 1964

68. University of Tokyo

For Physical Therapy

#1 in Asia

#1 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,918
Founded: 1877

69. University of Miami

United States Flag

United States | Florida

For Physical Therapy

#46 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

70. University of Gothenburg

Sweden | Gothenburg

For Physical Therapy

#16 in Europe

#3 in Sweden

Enrollment: 36,003
Founded: 1891

71. University of Western Australia

Australia | Crawley

For Physical Therapy

#7 in Australia

Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1911

72. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Physical Therapy

#2 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

73. Wake Forest University

United States Flag

United States | North Carolina

For Physical Therapy

#47 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

74. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

United States Flag

United States | Indiana

For Physical Therapy

#48 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

75. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States Flag

United States | South Carolina

For Physical Therapy

#49 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

76. University of Virginia

United States Flag

United States | Virginia

For Physical Therapy

#50 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

77. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

Germany | Brandenburg

For Physical Therapy

#17 in Europe

Enrollment: 9,340
Founded: 1710

78. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States Flag

United States | Texas

For Physical Therapy

#51 in North America

#41 in the United States

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

79. University of Southampton

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#18 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

80. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands Flag

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Physical Therapy

#19 in Europe

#5 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

81. Brown University

United States Flag

United States | Rhode Island

For Physical Therapy

#52 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

82. Tufts University

United States Flag

United States | Massachusetts

For Physical Therapy

#53 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

83. University of Nottingham

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#20 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1948

84. University of Southern Denmark

Denmark | Odense

For Physical Therapy

#21 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Founded: 1966

85. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Physical Therapy

#54 in North America

#11 in Canada

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

86. New York University

United States Flag

United States | New York State

For Physical Therapy

#55 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

87. University of Connecticut

United States Flag

United States | Connecticut

For Physical Therapy

#56 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

88. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Norway | Trondheim

For Physical Therapy

#22 in Europe

#1 in Norway

Enrollment: 44,000
Founded: 1996

89. University of Arizona

United States Flag

United States | Arizona

For Physical Therapy

#57 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

90. University of Bristol

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#23 in Europe

#9 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

91. University of Leeds

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#24 in Europe

#10 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1904

92. Sapienza University of Rome

For Physical Therapy

#25 in Europe

#1 in Italy

Enrollment: 100,155
Founded: 1303

93. Aalborg University

Denmark | Aalborg

For Physical Therapy

#26 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Enrollment: 20,353
Founded: 1974

94. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States Flag

United States | New Jersey

For Physical Therapy

#58 in North America

#47 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

95. Pierre and Marie Curie University

France | Ile-de-France

For Physical Therapy

#27 in Europe

#1 in France

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

96. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Physical Therapy

#59 in North America

#12 in Canada

Founded: 1957

97. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#28 in Europe

#11 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

98. University of Oslo

For Physical Therapy

#29 in Europe

#2 in Norway

Enrollment: 26,650
Founded: 1811

99. Loughborough University

United Kingdom Flag

United Kingdom | England

For Physical Therapy

#30 in Europe

#12 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

100. Michigan State University

United States Flag

United States | Michigan

For Physical Therapy

#60 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

Medicine subfields in the World

Anatomy and Physiology4506

Anesthesiology2939

Bioethics/Medical Ethics1070

Biomedical Engineering1852

Clinical Psychology3479

Cosmetology1026

Critical Care Nursing2279

Dermatology1950

Epidemiology1449

Family medicine2913

Forensic Science1038

Gastroenterology and Hepatology2360

Gerontology2583

Health Science4114

Healthcare Management (MHA)2994

Medical Physics1039

Neurosurgery1054

Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN)2534

Occupational Therapy1302

Oncology and Cancer research3533

Ophthalmology1805

Orthodontics2275

Paramedicine and Emergency medicine2497

Pharmacology3701

Plastic Surgery1104

Public Health5278

Radiation Therapy1748

Radiology and Nuclear medicine4498

Respiratory Therapy1017

Social Work1063

Sonography and Ultrasound1100

Sports / Exercise science1346

Sports Medicine2796