3+3 Physical Therapy Programs List

Last Updated on December 16, 2022 by Omoyeni Adeniyi

Physical Therapy/Therapist is of the hottest degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #55 most popular major in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

Collegelearners reviewed 241 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for degree seekers in the field of physical therapy/therapist. Combined, these schools handed out 13,655 degrees in physical therapy/therapist to qualified students.

No bachelor’s degree? No problem. Some schools offer an accelerated BS/DPT program, or 3+3 physical therapy specialization.

You enter school as a freshman, but you’ll graduate in six years as a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Unlike a typical bachelor’s degree program where you can choose any major, a 3+3 program is designed with a specific undergraduate track. This means that “picking your major” happens before you apply. When researching different 3+3 physical therapy schools, you may come across the following majors to choose from:

Natural Science

Excercise Science

Health Science

Life Science

Athletic Training

Biology

Read each program description carefully to determine which direction you want to take in your undergraduate education. For instance, a BS in exercise science is likely to focus heavily on nutrition and fitness assessment whereas a health studies major will include more classes on chemistry, biology, brain function and advocacy.

DPT schools have high standards for their students and 3+3 programs are no exception. In order to move to the graduate-level portion of the program, students usually need to receive a C or higher in each class.

It’s recommended that you work with a school advisor throughout the first three years to ensure you’re taking courses in the appropriate sequence and completing the correct prerequisites.

Once you reach the DPT level of the program, you can expect the same types of classes as a traditional DPT program. Upon graduating, you should feel prepared for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE).

Arcadia University, Glenside, PA   

• The Arcadia 3+3 path to the Doctor of Physical Therapy begins with three years as a Biology major, meeting all undergraduate prerequisites for the DPT degree plus fulfilling all liberal arts core requirements in the first three years.
• Even with the rigorous requirements of the Pre-Physical Therapy program, students are encouraged to study abroad while fulfilling the biology major requirements.
• By the numbers: 60% overall acceptance rate; SAT Mid-ranges: CR 500-600, M 500-580; ACT Mid-range: 22-27. Acceptance data for Physical Therapy 3+3 candidates vary.

List Of Accredited Online Schools

List of Physical Therapy Schools in Alabama

Alabama State University
Montgomery, AL

Alabama State University offers the Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

This three-year degree prepares graduates as entry-level Physical Therapists eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

The board passage rate for 2009-2012 is approximately 95% and 100% of those graduates seeking employment have been successful. It’s definitely one of the best PT schools.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL

UAB’s Department of Physical Therapy has offered outstanding educational programs in Physical Therapy for 50 years.

Currently, they offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy program for students who choose to become physical therapists and an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science program.

U.S. News Rank for best Physical Therapy schools: #20 Tie

List of Physical Therapy Schools in Arkansas

University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

The USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy was founded in 1945. Since its inception, USC has been a pioneer of the Physical Therapy profession and a leader in both Physical Therapy research and education.

Currently ranked as the #1 top Physical Therapy program in the nation by US News & World Report, the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy continues to be a prestigious center of excellence for the clinical practice, education, and research of Physical Therapy.

With Physical Therapy listed as one of the 5 Allied Health Careers in Demand with Excellent Growth, the Division understands how important it is to be at the forefront of innovative knowledge, research, and experience.

U.S. News Rank: #1 Tie

University of California – San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

This three year, entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is offered jointly with the University of California, San Francisco.

The DPT program is designed to prepare scholarly clinicians, educators, collaborative clinical researchers, administrative managers and community leaders. The program accepts 50 students each year.

Both the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) pass rate and employment rate are 100%.

U.S. News Rank for best PT programs: #20 Tie

List of Physical Therapy Schools in California

University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA

The USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy was founded in 1945. Since its inception, USC has been a pioneer of the physical therapy profession and a leader in both physical therapy research and education.

Currently ranked as the #1 program in the nation by US News & World Report, the USC Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy continues to be a prestigious center of excellence for the clinical practice, education, and research of physical therapy.

With physical therapy becoming one of the fastest growing medical professions, the Division understands how important it is to be on the forefront of innovative knowledge, research, and experience.

U.S. News Rank: #1 Tie

University of California – San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA

This three-year entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is offered jointly with the University of California, San Francisco.

The DPT program is designed to prepare scholarly clinicians, educators, collaborative clinical researchers, administrative managers and community leaders. The program accepts 50 students each year.

Both the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) pass rate and employment rate are 100%.

U.S. News Rank: #20 Tie

List of Physical Therapy Schools in Colorado

Regis University

Denver, CO

The Regis University School of Physical Therapy integrates the latest evidence into their teaching, clinical practice, and research efforts.

They are at the forefront of evidence-based practice in Physical Therapy. Multiple programs within the school are intended to match students based on where they are in their career path; each is recognized for their unique style of excellence.

U.S. News Rank for top-rated Physical Therapy schools: #28 Tie

University of Colorado – Denver

Aurora, CO

The Anschutz Medical Campus at the University of Colorado – Denver offers:

• Interprofessional Education
• Innovative Curriculum with Global Health Initiatives
• Partnerships and Research Opportunities

The average graduation rate is 97.54% and the employment rate is 100%.

U.S. News Rank: #15

List of Physical Therapy Schools in Delaware

University of Delaware
Newark, DE

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the University of Delaware is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

The Department of Physical Therapy also offers qualifying DPT students the option to earn a Master of Science (MS) in Anatomy and Clinical Health Science.

What’s more, the University of Delaware offers credentialed residencies in sports, orthopedics, geriatrics, neurology, and acute care—just one of the reasons it makes our list of PT schools.

Their graduation rates and employment rates are 97% and 100% respectively.

List of Physical Therapy Schools in Georgia

Emory University
Atlanta, GA

Emory University offers educational, clinical, research and community service opportunities available in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program located on the main campus in the heart of Atlanta.

A dedicated community of students, faculty, staff, and clinical affiliates contribute to the success of the program and make it a great PT school to put on your resume.

SEE ALSO: 7 Easy Ways to Improve Your Physical Therapist Resume

The program’s goal is to create an environment that nurtures:

• Inquisitiveness
• Knowledge
• Expertise
• Professionalism

List of Physical Therapy Schools in Kansas

University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, KS

In collaboration with The University of Kansas Hospital, students benefit from the opportunity to interact with a large number of healthcare professionals and leading researchers in real-world environments.

The Kansas University programs are nationally recognized for excellence and located in the heart of Kansas City.

Kansas offers two-degree programs:

• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science (Ph.D.)

List of Physical Therapy Schools in North Carolina

Duke University
Durham, NC

The Duke Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is  consistently rated among the best PT programs in the nation and stands apart thanks to:

• Team-Based Learning
• Student Team Experience in Practice (STEPs®) Program
• Global Health Programs
• Innovative Research

By the numbers:

• 100% Employment Rate for Duke DPT Graduates
• 200 Duke DPT Students Each Year Working with Faculty in Exploring Research
• 100% Committed to Inclusion and Diversity
• 84% Acceptance Rate of Early Decision Applicants Who Are Interviewed

U.S. News Rank: #10 Tie

University of North Carolina— Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is designed for those individuals with an undergraduate degree in a field other than Physical Therapy.

There is no undergraduate major that you must have to apply to this program and no major is more advantageous or disadvantageous for your application.

The program requires:

• Three full years of study (36 consecutive months) with 114 hours of didactic and clinical courses
• 36 weeks of clinical rotations
• Four mock clinical cases
• A written comprehensive examination
• A capstone project

Approximately 80% of their graduates choose to get licensed and work in the state of North Carolina.