Online Physical Therapy Degrees of 2025

What Sets It Apart: 

The online transitional doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program at Arcadia University offers an efficient 100% online learning experience leading to graduation in 1-3 years. Courses use both asynchronous and synchronous elements to engage students. 

Six start dates throughout the year make it easy to get started, and learners can take up to three courses to try the program out before formally applying.

Cost per Semester:
In State | $1,821
Out of State | $1,821

Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

Why Students Choose Arcadia:

• Fully Remote: Arcadia's DPT program requires no campus presence whatsoever.
• Doctoral Pathway for Bachelor's Applicants: Candidates do not need a master's degree if they hold an active physical therapist license.
• Flexible Payments: Arcadia offers a tuition payment plan that divides semesterly tuition and fees into six affordable installments over the course of the program.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Licensure Required: Applicants must have a valid physical therapist license.
• Higher Tuition for International Students: Students who completed their physical therapy training outside the United States pay slightly higher tuition.
• Unique Course Structures: Most courses in the program have specific structures, often including scheduled elements that require participation at set times.

What Sets It Apart: 

The online post-professional doctor of occupational therapy program at Boston University offers one-on-one faculty mentorship opportunities and tuition savings on the cost of BU's comparable on-campus program. New cohorts launch three times per year. 

The program builds up to a doctoral project that prompts students to develop an evidence-based model for improving occupational therapy service delivery. This unique feature builds socially and culturally responsive critical thinking skills.

Cost per Semester:
In State | $14,581
Out of State | $14,581

Programmatic Accreditation: American Occupational Therapy Association

Why Students Choose BU:

• Flexibility: Learners spend around 5-10 hours per week on their coursework, making it easier to balance school with outside commitments.
• Efficiency: Students who do not require any foundational coursework can complete the program in just 16 months.
• No Clinical Experience Requirements: BU accepts students who lack clinical experience.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Accredited Degree Required: Applicants must have an occupational therapy degree accredited by the Accreditation Council for Physical Therapy Education or the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
• Foundation Course Requirements: Students may need to take up to six foundational courses, which can increase both costs and completion timelines.

What Sets It Apart: 

The professional DPT program at Nova Southeastern University uses a dynamic blended model that delivers innovative new ways of applying didactic content to clinical physical therapy practice. Since 2022, graduates have posted 100% pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Examination, with 91.5% of alumni passing on their first attempt. 

Cost per Semester:
In State | $3,249
Out of State | $3,249

Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

Why Students Choose NSU:

• Small Class Sizes: NSU keeps class sizes small by limiting admissions to 43-46 students per cohort.
• A Strong Learning Community: NSU's close-knit cohort model offers plenty of peer networking opportunities.
• Immersive Internships: Learners spend their final nine months in full-time clinical internship placements.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Blended Online Modalities: Hybrid classes include both asynchronous and synchronous online elements.
• Campus Residency Requirements: The hybrid program requires five-day campus residencies in Tampa Bay three times per semester.
• Face-to-Face Components: Practical exams, written exams, and patient practice sessions all take place exclusively in person.

What Sets It Apart: 

The online post-professional DPT program at Shenandoah University emphasizes evidence-based clinical practice skills in a range of formats developed for students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. The 30-credit curriculum is designed for mentorship: Students in the fully online, asynchronously delivered program regularly engage with professors in one-on-one video conferencing sessions.

Cost per Credit:
In State | $677
Out of State | $677

Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

Why Students Choose Shenandoah:

• Flexibility: Choose from structured one- or two-year completion plans.
• No Master's Required: Learners with a qualified bachelor's degree can pursue a seven-term BS-to-DPT program.
• Strong Support: Shenandoah offers support to online DPT students from day one, beginning with an orientation session and continuing until the moment of graduation.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Clinical Experience Required: Shenandoah requires an active physical therapist license and at least one year of clinical experience in the United States or Canada.
• Cohort Model: All completion plans use cohort models that move students through the program at the same pace.

What Sets It Apart: 

The University of Southern California offers a hybrid DPT program connects students to the school's world-renowned faculty in an immersive three-year format that blends distance and hands-on learning. Emphasizing a compassionate yet evidence-based approach to physical therapy, the curriculum builds strong interpersonal bonds and professional networks through its close-knit cohort model.

Cost per Semester:
In State | $25,382-$28,007
Out of State | $25,382-$28,007

Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

Why Students Choose USC:

• Small Online Classes: The program's online components average just 12 students per class.
• Versatility: USC's program covers cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, and neurologic therapy and prepares degree-seekers to work with people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Community-Based Experiences: Students complete clinical fieldwork placements in their areas, giving them convenient ways to develop their skills. 

Know Before You Enroll:

• Hybrid Pathway: USC's program combines both online and in-person delivery modes, and students must complete immersion experiences on campus.
• Elevated Admission Requirements: USC admits DPT students with bachelor's degrees, but applicants need a 3.0 GPA in their science coursework.
• High Cost: At $84,023 per year for the first two years of study, USC's tuition costs are relatively high.

What Sets It Apart: 

The transitional DPT program at Winston-Salem State University uses a convenient 100% online delivery model to help established physical therapists earn a terminal credential. Maintaining a global focus, the program requires just four semesters of full-time study. 

The professionally focused curriculum meets the education requirements for doctor of physical therapy licensure in all U.S. states and territories.

Cost per Semester:
In State | $1,291
Out of State | $4,802

Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

Why Students Choose WSSU:

• Acceleration Pathways: Students with relevant master's degrees can receive up to six credits of advanced standing, reducing their credit requirements by up to 25%.
• Stay on Track: Monthly online meetings keep students engaged and focused on their progress.
• Affordability: WSSU offers the lowest net price of the schools featured in this ranking.

Know Before You Enroll:

• Time Limits Apply: Students must complete the program within three years of starting it.
• Licensure Required: WSSU's program is for actively practicing physical therapists.
• Higher Nonresident Tuition: Students from outside North Carolina and its tuition reciprocity zone face significantly higher costs.