by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Physical Therapy/Therapist covers Physical Therapy/therapist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Evaluate, Examine, Diagnose, And Alleviate Physical Functional Impairments And Limitations Caused By Injury Or Disease Through The Design And Implementation Of Therapeutic Interventions To Promote Fitness And Health. Includes Instruction In Anatomy, Behavioral Sciences, Biology, Biomechanics, Biophysical Agents, Care Plan Development And Documentation, Cellular Histology, Clinical Evaluation And Measurement, Clinical Reasoning, Communication, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Pathology, Physiology, Professional Standards And Ethics, Rehabilitation Psychology, And Therapeutic Exercise. Examples: [Doctor Of Physical Therapy (Dpt)]. Read on to learn the key facts every physical therapy/therapist major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering physical therapy/therapist programs.
In the U.S., physical therapy/therapist is a widely-pursued major, with 13,424 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools ranking analyzes these 268 schools to determine the best overall colleges for physical therapy/therapist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of physical therapy/therapist programs later in this article.
Coursework for Physical Therapy/Therapist emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations physical therapy/therapist graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a physical therapy/therapist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a physical therapy/therapist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several physical therapy/therapist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 57 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 199 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 451 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 12,717 |
People currently working in careers related to physical therapy/therapist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 39.3% |
| Master’s degree | 37.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in physical therapy/therapist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in physical therapy/therapist can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to physical therapy/therapist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physical therapy/therapist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapists | 2,383,893 | 8.0% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of physical therapy/therapist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,332 |
| 4 years | $70,102 |
| 5 years | $75,167 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for physical therapy/therapist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers physical therapy/therapist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapists | $144,047 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 268 different physical therapy/therapist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased physical therapy/therapist school rankings to help you.
Students interested in physical therapy/therapist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
