100 Best Physical Therapy schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Physical Therapy. A graph of 36.3M citations received by 926K academic papers made by 783 universities in the United States 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

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Physical Therapy

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

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

2. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Physical Therapy

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

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

3. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Physical Therapy

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

4. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Physical Therapy

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Physical Therapy

#6 in North America

#8 in the World

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

6. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Physical Therapy

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

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

7. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Physical Therapy

#10 in North America

#14 in the World

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

8. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Physical Therapy

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

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

9. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Physical Therapy

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

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

10. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Physical Therapy

#14 in North America

#21 in the World

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

11. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physical Therapy

#15 in North America

#24 in the World

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

12. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Physical Therapy

#16 in North America

#25 in the World

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

13. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Physical Therapy

#17 in North America

#26 in the World

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

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Physical Therapy

#18 in North America

#27 in the World

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

15. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Physical Therapy

#20 in North America

#30 in the World

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

16. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Physical Therapy

#22 in North America

#32 in the World

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

17. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Physical Therapy

#23 in North America

#33 in the World

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

18. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Physical Therapy

#25 in North America

#35 in the World

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

19. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Physical Therapy

#26 in North America

#36 in the World

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

20. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Physical Therapy

#27 in North America

#37 in the World

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

21. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Physical Therapy

#28 in North America

#39 in the World

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

22. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Physical Therapy

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

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

23. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Physical Therapy

#30 in North America

#44 in the World

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

24. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Physical Therapy

#32 in North America

#46 in the World

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

25. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Physical Therapy

#33 in North America

#47 in the World

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

26. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Physical Therapy

#34 in North America

#48 in the World

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

27. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Physical Therapy

#35 in North America

#50 in the World

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

28. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Physical Therapy

#36 in North America

#52 in the World

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

29. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Physical Therapy

#37 in North America

#53 in the World

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

30. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Physical Therapy

#38 in North America

#54 in the World

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

31. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Physical Therapy

#39 in North America

#55 in the World

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

32. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Physical Therapy

#40 in North America

#56 in the World

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

33. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physical Therapy

#43 in North America

#61 in the World

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

34. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Physical Therapy

#44 in North America

#62 in the World

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

35. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Physical Therapy

#45 in North America

#63 in the World

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

36. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Physical Therapy

#46 in North America

#69 in the World

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

37. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Physical Therapy

#47 in North America

#73 in the World

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

38. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Physical Therapy

#48 in North America

#74 in the World

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

39. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Physical Therapy

#49 in North America

#75 in the World

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

40. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Physical Therapy

#50 in North America

#76 in the World

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

41. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Physical Therapy

#51 in North America

#78 in the World

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

42. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Physical Therapy

#52 in North America

#81 in the World

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

43. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Physical Therapy

#53 in North America

#82 in the World

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

44. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Physical Therapy

#55 in North America

#86 in the World

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

45. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Physical Therapy

#56 in North America

#87 in the World

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

46. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Physical Therapy

#57 in North America

#89 in the World

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

47. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Physical Therapy

#58 in North America

#94 in the World

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

48. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Physical Therapy

#60 in North America

#100 in the World

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

49. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Physical Therapy

#61 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

50. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Physical Therapy

#62 in North America

#104 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

51. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Physical Therapy

#63 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

52. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Physical Therapy

#64 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

53. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Physical Therapy

#65 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

54. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Physical Therapy

#66 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

55. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Physical Therapy

#68 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

56. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Physical Therapy

#69 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

57. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Physical Therapy

#70 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

58. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Physical Therapy

#71 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Physical Therapy

#72 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

60. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Physical Therapy

#73 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

61. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Physical Therapy

#74 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

62. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Physical Therapy

#75 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

63. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Physical Therapy

#76 in North America

#142 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

64. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Physical Therapy

#77 in North America

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

65. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Physical Therapy

#78 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

66. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Physical Therapy

#79 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

67. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Physical Therapy

#80 in North America

#154 in the World

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

68. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Physical Therapy

#81 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 95%

69. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physical Therapy

#82 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

70. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Physical Therapy

#83 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

71. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Physical Therapy

#85 in North America

#161 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

72. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Physical Therapy

#86 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

73. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Physical Therapy

#87 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

74. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Physical Therapy

#88 in North America

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

75. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Physical Therapy

#89 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

76. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Physical Therapy

#90 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

77. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Physical Therapy

#91 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

78. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Physical Therapy

#92 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

79. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Physical Therapy

#93 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

80. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Physical Therapy

#95 in North America

#200 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

81. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Physical Therapy

#96 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

82. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Physical Therapy

#97 in North America

#203 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

83. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Physical Therapy

#98 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

84. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physical Therapy

#99 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

85. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Physical Therapy

#100 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

86. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Physical Therapy

#101 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

87. University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas | Galveston

For Physical Therapy

#102 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,241
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1891

88. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Physical Therapy

#103 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

89. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Physical Therapy

#105 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

90. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Physical Therapy

#106 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

91. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Physical Therapy

#107 in North America

#232 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

92. East Carolina University

North Carolina | Greenville

For Physical Therapy

#108 in North America

#235 in the World

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

93. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Physical Therapy

#109 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

94. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Physical Therapy

#110 in North America

#242 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

95. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Physical Therapy

#111 in North America

#245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

96. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Physical Therapy

#112 in North America

#250 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

97. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Physical Therapy

#113 in North America

#256 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

98. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Physical Therapy

#114 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

99. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Physical Therapy

#115 in North America

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,749

100. Texas Tech University

Texas | Lubbock

For Physical Therapy

#116 in North America

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

The best cities to study Physical Therapy in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Seattle, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh.