22 Best Physical Therapy schools in North Carolina

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North Carolina ranked based on their research performance in Physical Therapy. A graph of 1.58M citations received by 38.3K academic papers made by 22 universities in North Carolina 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. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill

For Physical Therapy

#9 in the United States

#13 in North America

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

2. Duke University

Durham

For Physical Therapy

#26 in the United States

#34 in North America

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

3. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Physical Therapy

#37 in the United States

#47 in North America

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

4. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Physical Therapy

#92 in the United States

#108 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 77%

5. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

For Physical Therapy

#102 in the United States

#118 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

6. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Physical Therapy

#131 in the United States

#153 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1253
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

7. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Physical Therapy

#142 in the United States

#165 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 69%

8. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

For Physical Therapy

#182 in the United States

#207 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 75%

9. Elon University

Elon

For Physical Therapy

#263 in the United States

#298 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $44,440

10. High Point University

High Point

For Physical Therapy

#306 in the United States

#342 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $43,086

11. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Physical Therapy

#345 in the United States

#383 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $25,736
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $36,532

12. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Physical Therapy

#349 in the United States

#387 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 925
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 97%

13. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Physical Therapy

#370 in the United States

#409 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 73%

14. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Physical Therapy

#432 in the United States

#475 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 90%

15. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Physical Therapy

#513 in the United States

#562 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 94%

16. Wingate University

Wingate

For Physical Therapy

#529 in the United States

#579 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $21,282

17. Davidson College

Davidson

For Physical Therapy

#566 in the United States

#616 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,720

18. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Physical Therapy

#601 in the United States

#651 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

19. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Physical Therapy

#652 in the United States

#706 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $26,334

20. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Physical Therapy

#679 in the United States

#736 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Net Price: $20,412
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $11,947

21. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Physical Therapy

#694 in the United States

#753 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $31,839

22. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Physical Therapy

#716 in the United States

#776 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $11,999

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Physical Therapy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	11	39
Virginia	21	40
West Virginia	6	85
Georgia	23	31
District of Columbia	6	77
Maryland	13	3
Kentucky	10	50
Tennessee	20	60
Ohio	27	20
Pennsylvania	53	4
Alabama	17	22
New Jersey	14	47
Indiana	18	38
Florida	24	8
Connecticut	14	16
Illinois	31	10
New York	65	18
Mississippi	6	136
Rhode Island	4	42
Massachusetts	37	1
Michigan	17	5
Arkansas	8	113
Vermont	3	68
Missouri	20	21
New Hampshire	6	118
Louisiana	12	90
Wisconsin	16	14
Iowa	9	25
Maine	5	276
Oklahoma	7	106
Kansas	8	71
Minnesota	14	12
Nebraska	7	104
Texas	51	34
South Dakota	6	238
North Dakota	3	202
Colorado	16	49
Puerto Rico	5	411
New Mexico	3	94
Montana	3	177
Utah	7	24
Arizona	6	46
Idaho	3	194
Nevada	3	139
Oregon	13	30
California	66	6
Washington	15	2
Hawaii	4	149