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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in North Carolina

8 Colleges in the United States
462 Physical Therapy/Therapist Degrees Awarded
$70,674 Avg Early-Career Salary

Physical Therapy/Therapist is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for physical therapy/therapist students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Physical Therapy/Therapist in North Carolina

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the physical therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Physical Therapy/Therapist

1
Duke University crest
Duke University
Durham, NC

Duke University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in physical therapy/therapist. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 94 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from Duke University earn around $68,778 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete this degree. Get the full physical therapy/therapist details for Duke University

2
High Point University crest
High Point University
High Point, NC

High Point University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of High Point, High Point University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. High Point University awarded about 64 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from High Point University earn around $113,352 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,785 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from High Point University

3
Wingate University crest
Wingate University
Wingate, NC

Wingate University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in physical therapy/therapist, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Wingate, Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Wingate University graduates 46% of students within six years. About 35 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Wingate University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Wingate University generally make around $73,520. Typical student debt for the program is $25,556. More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from Wingate University

4

A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the top schools for physical therapy/therapist. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 29 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent year. Physical Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $58,000 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117. See the full physical therapy/therapist program report for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

5

A rank of #5 makes Elon University one of the top schools for physical therapy/therapist. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Elon. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Elon University awarded about 43 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical therapy/therapist program make about $74,620 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,619. See the full physical therapy/therapist program report for Elon University

6

East Carolina University placed #6 among the best physical therapy/therapist schools. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. East Carolina University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 32 physical therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from East Carolina University earn around $56,764 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. Read more about the physical therapy/therapist program at East Carolina University

7

Western Carolina University landed the #7 spot for physical therapy/therapist this year. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Western Carolina University awarded about 47 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the physical therapy/therapist program make about $54,814 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,000. See the full physical therapy/therapist program report for Western Carolina University

8
Campbell University crest
Campbell University
Buies Creek, NC

Campbell University came in at #8 for physical therapy/therapist this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Buies Creek. Campbell University graduates 60% of students within six years. About 43 physical therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at Campbell University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, physical therapy/therapist degree recipients from Campbell University generally make around $75,561. Typical student debt for the program is $23,641. Get the full physical therapy/therapist details for Campbell University

9
Methodist University crest
Methodist University
Fayetteville, NC

Methodist University came in at #9 for physical therapy/therapist this year. Methodist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. Roughly 43% of students complete a degree within six years here. Methodist University awarded about 36 physical therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from Methodist University earn around $73,105 in the first couple years of their career. Methodist University graduates carry a median of $27,604 in student loans. More information about a degree in physical therapy/therapist from Methodist University

10

Winston Salem State University came in at #10 for physical therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 physical therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Winston Salem State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their physical therapy/therapist degree from Winston Salem State University earn around $58,227 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete this degree. Get the full physical therapy/therapist details for Winston Salem State University

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 11 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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