In this article, we will look at the best and cheapest DPT Programs. If you want to be a professional physical therapist, you’ll almost certainly need a degree first.
Fortunately, with today’s wide range of low-cost DPT programs, it’s easier than ever to pay for college and advance your physiotherapy career.
DPT programs are intended for students who want to become highly educated healthcare professionals who focus on the management and prevention of pain, injury, disability, and impairment. It serves as the foundation for further study and research in the field.
They learn how to assist people who are suffering from various issues and how to overcome obstacles. Physical Therapists develop critical thinking and analytical abilities that employers value. Students in the program learn to evaluate, analyze, and investigate treatment and therapy plans. They learn how to address and treat issues such as back pain, car accidents, bone fractures, and more.
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DPT Programs overview
A Doctor of Physical Therapy program (DPT program) or Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) degree is a physical therapy qualifying degree.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program prepares students to work in a variety of healthcare settings as competent, compassionate, and ethical physical therapists.
Graduates will be dedicated professionals with superior critical thinking, communication, patient education, advocacy, practice management, and research abilities.
Students who complete the program will be awarded the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), which will allow them to sit for the national board examination that will lead to state licensure as a Physical Therapist.
How long does a DPT program take?
Your physical therapy program will last two to three years, on top of the four years, it will take to complete your undergraduate degree.
Needless to say, all of these years of schooling make obtaining a physical therapy degree a significant commitment. However, physical therapy school is usually worth the investment because the high earning potential makes the financial and time investments worthwhile.
To be accepted into a physical therapy program, you must have a bachelor’s degree, and many programs require that your undergraduate hours include a certain number of science and health-related courses.
Previously, students could choose between a master’s degree in physical therapy (MPT) and a doctorate in physical therapy (DPT), but now all accredited physical therapist programs are doctorate level.
DPT Skills you’ll learn in any of the cheapest DPT programs
Here are some of the skills you will learn if you enroll in DPT programs:
- Ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients of all ages and across the care continuum.
- Learn how to evaluate and treat patients firsthand.
- Gain knowledge to be an advanced provider, capable of managing patients with neurologic, musculoskeletal, or other pathologic conditions that affect function and quality of life.
- Work with a healthcare team in a variety of settings throughout the healthcare system.
Where Physical Therapists work
Physical Therapists work at:
- Acute, Subacute, and Rehabilitation Hospitals
- Specialty Clinics
- Outpatient Services
- Private Consultations
- Veterans Affairs
- Military Medical Facilities
- Home Health Care Services
- Schools
- Long-Term Care Centers.
When to apply to DPT school
The application deadlines for DPT programs differ greatly between schools. Check individual physical therapy school websites for specific application deadline dates.
The PTCAS website contains a list of physical therapy programs, including admissions deadlines, entrance requirements, credentials awarded, fees, and so on.
Generally, applications are submitted one year before the year of attendance. It is always a good idea to apply as soon as possible.
Applying early can help you avoid delays, ensure timely processing, and increase your chances of admission to schools that use rolling admissions.
Cost of DPT program
The cost of a doctor of physical therapy program can range from $10,000 to $100,000 per year. Tuition costs, on the other hand, are determined by several factors.
In-state residents, for example, pay less in tuition than out-of-state or international students. When compared to on-campus living, living at home is the most affordable option for a physical therapy degree.
What are the cheapest DPT Programs?
The institutions listed below offer the most affordable DPT programs:
- University of California-San Francisco
- University of Florida
- Texas Woman’S University
- University of Iowa
- Virginia Commonwealth University School Of Allied Professions
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Ohio State University
- Kansas University Medical Center
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Regis University Rueckert-Hartman College For Health Professions.
10 Cheapest DPT Programs
#1. University of California-San Francisco
This is a three-year Doctor of Physical Therapy degree offered by a program ranked #20 in the Best Physical Therapy Program rankings by U.S. News and World Report. The DPT program, a collaboration between UCSF and San Francisco State University (SFSU), is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
The University of California-San Francisco Medical Center has a fascinating history, having been founded in 1864 by a South Carolina surgeon who had migrated west during the 1849 California Gold Rush.
Following the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco, the original hospital and its affiliates cared for the victims. The California Board of Regents established an academic medical program in 1949, which has grown to become the well-known medical centre it is today.
Tuition Cost: $33,660.
#2. University Of Florida
This CAPTE-accredited two-year entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program is offered by the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions.
The curriculum includes standard pathophysiology, anatomy, exercise physiology, and differential diagnosis courses. Also, the curriculum plan calls for 32 weeks of clinical internship followed by several weeks of integrated part-time clinical experience.
The program began in 1953 to train undergraduate physical therapists and was approved in 1997 to offer the graduate entry-level graduate program.
Graduates with this degree maintain a high 91.3 per cent first-time board rate, ranking #10 in U.S. News and World Report’s Best Physical Therapy Program.
Tuition Cost: $45,444 (Resident); $63,924 (Non Resident).
#3. Texas Woman’S University
Texas Woman’s University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy entry-level degree is available at both the Houston and Dallas campuses of the university.
The university also offers a DPT to Ph.D., a fast-track DPT to PhD option, as the school seeks to increase the number of academic physical therapy instructors to meet the profession’s growing demand.
Students must hold a baccalaureate degree and have completed prerequisite courses in chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, college algebra, medical terminology, and psychology.
Tuition Cost: $35,700 (Resident); $74,000 (Non Resident).
#4. University Of Iowa
At its Iowa City campus, the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa Health Care offers a Doctorate of Physical Therapy degree. A CAPTE-accredited program with approximately 40 students enrolled each academic year.
Students take courses in human anatomy, pathology, kinesiology and pathomechanics, neuroanatomy, physical therapy and administrative management, pharmacology, adult and pediatric physical therapy, and clinical practice.
This institution The Doctor of Physical Therapy degree was established in 1942 at the request of the United States Army, and it replaced the Master of Physical Therapy degree in 2003.
Tuition Cost: $58,042 (Resident); $113,027 (Non Resident).
#5. Virginia Commonwealth University School Of Allied Professions
Virginia Commonwealth University, which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree that can be completed in three years.
Kinesiology, anatomy, pharmacology, rehabilitation aspects, orthopaedics, and clinical education are all part of the curriculum.
Clinical education can be completed at any of the 210 clinical sites available across the country. Scholarships are available through the School of Allied Professionals.
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) established a master’s degree in physical therapy in 1941, and the program has grown exponentially since then.
Tuition Cost: $44,940 (Resident); $95,800 (Non Resident).
#6. University Of Wisconsin-Madison
This entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Wisconsin-School Madison’s of Medicine and Public Health was ranked #28 in the country as a Best Physical Therapy Program by US News and World Report.
Human anatomy, neuromuscular mechanics, physical therapy foundations, prosthetics, and a clinical internship with a focus on diagnosis and intervention are all part of the curriculum. Students may be required to take prerequisite courses depending on their previous degrees.
The School of Medicine and Public Health graduated its first class in 1908, and the physical therapy program began in 1926.
The DPT program is CAPTE-accredited, with 119 students currently enrolled.
Tuition Cost: $52,877 (Resident); $107,850 (Non Resident).
#7. Ohio State University
With more than 60 years of experience preparing students for successful careers in PT, Ohio State’s doctorate of the physical therapy degree program is among the very best in the globe.
If you’re already a physical therapist, Ohio State offers several robust post-professional education opportunities. They now offer five clinical residency programs in cooperation with other programs at the OSU Wexner Medical Center and area facilities.
These residencies include Orthopaedic, Neurologic, Pediatric, Geriatric, Sports, and Women’s Health. Clinical fellowships in Orthopaedic Manual, Performing Arts, and Upper Extremity could take your career even farther.
Tuition Cost: $53,586 (Resident); $119,925 (Non Resident).
#8. Kansas University Medical Center
The mission of KU’s doctoral program in physical therapy is to continuously strive to develop caring physical therapists who exhibit the highest level of clinical expertise and knowledge and who are prepared to enrich the dignity and quality of the human experience by optimizing movement and maximizing functional potential.
Kansas University Medical Center’s physical therapy program, which was founded in 1943 in response to a nationwide polio epidemic, is housed in KUMC’s School of Health Professions.
The degree is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the DPT is ranked #20 in the country for Best Physical Therapy Program by U.S. News and World Report.
Tuition $70,758 (Resident); $125,278 (Non Resident).
#9. University Of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The Division of Physical Therapy at this institution creates and integrates innovative research discoveries, education, and practice to develop scholarly, collaborative physical therapists and rehabilitation scientists who advance health care and disease prevention for diverse communities in Minnesota and beyond.
In 1941, the University of Minnesota’s Division of Physical Therapy began as a certificate program. In 1946, it added a baccalaureate program, a Master of Science program in 1997, and a professional doctorate program in 2002. All students who enter the program and complete all requirements earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).
Tuition Cost: $71,168 (Resident); $119,080 (Non Resident).
#10. Regis University Rueckert-Hartman College For Health Professions
The Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions (RHCHP) offers innovative and dynamic degree and certificate programs that will prepare you for a variety of health professions careers.
As an RHCHP graduate, you will enter the healthcare workforce with cutting-edge knowledge that is critical in today’s ever-changing healthcare environments.
Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions (RHCHP) is made up of three schools: Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy, as well as two divisions: Counseling and Family Therapy and Health Services Education.
Their cutting-edge knowledge is essential in today’s ever-changing health care environments, and our innovative and dynamic degree and certificate programs are designed to prepare you for a variety of careers in the health professions.
Tuition Cost: $90,750.
FAQs about Cheapest DPT Programs
What are the lowest cost DPT programs?
The lowest cost DPT programs are: University Of Wisconsin-Madison, Ohio State University, Kansas University Medical Center, University Of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Regis University, Rueckert-Hartman College For Health Professions...
What are the most affordable DPT programs?
The most affordable DPT programs are as follows: The University Of California-San Francisco,University Of Florida, Texas Woman'S University, University Of Iowa...
Are there Cheapest DPT programs out-of-state?
Yes, various universities offers Cheap dpt program for their out of state students.
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Conclusion Cheapest DPT Programs
Physical therapy is one of the top healthcare careers, with a projected 34 per cent job growth and an annual median salary of $84,000.
Graduate coursework in either an entry-level or transitional degree program is required for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). So if you are aspiring to become a professional in this field, why not take advantage of the above-mentioned most affordable DPT programs.
