22 Best Physical Therapy schools in North Carolina

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 1.49M citations received by 36.8K 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: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

2. Duke University

Durham

For Physical Therapy

#27 in the United States

#35 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

3. Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem

For Physical Therapy

#37 in the United States

#47 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,790

4. East Carolina University

Greenville

For Physical Therapy

#91 in the United States

#107 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 79%

5. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh

For Physical Therapy

#102 in the United States

#118 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

6. University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro

For Physical Therapy

#130 in the United States

#151 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

7. Appalachian State University

Boone

For Physical Therapy

#143 in the United States

#166 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 70%

8. University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Charlotte

For Physical Therapy

#183 in the United States

#208 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 72%

9. Elon University

Elon

For Physical Therapy

#262 in the United States

#297 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1224
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $41,849

10. High Point University

High Point

For Physical Therapy

#324 in the United States

#360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $43,578

11. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem

For Physical Therapy

#348 in the United States

#386 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 935
Average ACT: 16
Receiving Aid: 96%

12. Campbell University

Buies Creek

For Physical Therapy

#357 in the United States

#395 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $24,517
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $34,413

13. University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington

For Physical Therapy

#375 in the United States

#413 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

14. Western Carolina University

Cullowhee

For Physical Therapy

#431 in the United States

#474 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

15. North Carolina A&T State University

Greensboro

For Physical Therapy

#518 in the United States

#565 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 96%

16. Wingate University

Wingate

For Physical Therapy

#538 in the United States

#587 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $21,464

17. Davidson College

Davidson

For Physical Therapy

#567 in the United States

#617 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,510

18. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Asheville

For Physical Therapy

#598 in the United States

#648 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 93%

19. Methodist University

Fayetteville

For Physical Therapy

#656 in the United States

#710 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $25,786

20. Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem

For Physical Therapy

#674 in the United States

#730 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Net Price: $19,111
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $11,743

21. Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte

For Physical Therapy

#685 in the United States

#744 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $27,178

22. North Carolina Central University

Durham

For Physical Therapy

#715 in the United States

#775 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1040
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 96%

Closest to North Carolina states to learn Physical Therapy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
South Carolina	11	39
Virginia	20	40
West Virginia	6	85
Georgia	22	32
District of Columbia	6	75
Maryland	13	3
Kentucky	10	50
Tennessee	20	60
Ohio	27	20
Pennsylvania	52	4
Alabama	17	22
New Jersey	14	47
Indiana	17	38
Florida	24	8
Connecticut	14	16
Illinois	30	11
New York	64	18
Mississippi	6	138
Rhode Island	4	43
Massachusetts	37	1
Michigan	17	5
Arkansas	8	113
Vermont	3	67
Missouri	20	21
New Hampshire	6	118
Louisiana	12	90
Wisconsin	16	14
Iowa	9	24
Maine	5	276
Oklahoma	7	106
Kansas	8	70
Minnesota	13	12
Nebraska	7	105
Texas	51	34
South Dakota	6	241
North Dakota	3	203
Colorado	16	51
Puerto Rico	5	413
New Mexico	3	93
Montana	3	177
Utah	7	25
Arizona	6	46
Idaho	3	194
Nevada	3	141
Oregon	13	30
California	66	6
Washington	15	2
Hawaii	4	151