There are many scholarships for physical therapy (PT) and PT assistant students. These physical therapy scholarships could help offset the cost of PT school.
Some awards may come from physical therapy agencies. While others come from colleges with accredited PT programs. Private donors and allied health providers offer them too.
To apply for a scholarship for physical therapy, you have to find out if you are eligible. This may mean showing a level of financial need, merit or a blend of both. Many providers also ask you to furnish these documents:
Letters of reference from clinical instructors
Transcripts from PT school
GPA and GRE scores
Career goals
Resume that outlines community service
An essay that explains what makes you a team player
There are physical therapy scholarships for various stages of PT education too. This includes awards for people in their first, second or third year of a DPT degree program.
AMBUCS is one example. They offer physical therapy scholarships to students (U.S. citizens) in their junior or senior year in a bachelor’s degree. Or, to those in a graduate program leading to a master’s or doctoral degree. Once accepted in an accredited physical therapy program, you may apply.
Why You Should Apply for Scholarships for PT School?
Physical therapists help people recover and manage mobility issues and pain. They work in clinics, private offices, hospitals, patients’ homes and nursing homes. And are in demand now more than ever.
There are a few reasons the job outlook for PTs and PT assistants is so bright. A major one is the uptick in chronic conditions that create mobility issues. Like diabetes and obesity.
People are also staying active later in life. As such, there are many more outpatient surgeries driving need for rehab. The demand is high for support staff as well as for licensed PTs.
PT assistants can expect 26% more jobs through 2028 and an annual earning potential of $48,990. For physical therapists, about 22% more jobs are on the horizon. Plus, average annual incomes of $89,440.
If you want to pursue a career in PT, you need a college degree. The type of degree you need depends on your goals. For instance, do you want to function as an aide, or practice on your own?
Some people start as PT assistants. This takes a two-year associate degree from an accredited program. Having your degree also preps you to take a mandatory state license exam.
Physical therapists entering the profession need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. A DPT degree program may take three years or more. It also preps you to take the National Physical Therapy Exam. And you need to pass that to get a license.
Now that you see what you might earn as a PT, you can weigh it against the cost of tuition. At last check, the average tuition at a public PT school is $6,991. Also, private schools cost about $33,140.
Luckily, scholarships for physical therapy school exists. Scholarships may offset the price of tuition, fees, research and more. Also, because they are not student loans, you do not need to pay them back as long as you abide by the terms.
List of Physical Therapy Scholarships
Check out our list of physical therapy scholarships below. We have 44 awards worth $83K.
The PODS I & II Scholarships is available for post-professional doctoral students, who, having completed one full year of coursework, wish to continue their studies or have entered the dissertation phase of their post-professional doctoral program. Click here to learn more and apply today!
Applicants must be New York residents, majoring in occupational or phtysicla therapy at an accredited higher education institution. Click to learn more and apply today!
The Linda Craig Memorial Scholarship Program is an annual program that awards undergraduate students currently enrolled in an accredited Indiana institution with an academic major in medicine, sports medicine, physical therapy, and/or other related fields. Click here to learn more and apply today!
The annual EMPOWER Scholarship encourages and supports ethnically diverse students who are pursuing a career in a medical or rehabilitation field, accepted to or enrolled in a post high school program. Selection is based on the applicant’s stated intentions, past achievements, need, and graduation ranking.
This award is available for U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate students who are Washington residents. The student must major in physical, occupational, or speech therapy, and have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Graduating high school seniors or older students of one of the 26 northernmost counties of the Texas panhandles who are majoring in occupational or physical therapy and attend Amarillo College, West Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University or the University of Texas are eligible for this award.
The HIE Help Center will award one annual scholarship in the amount of $1,000 to an undergraduate or graduate student who plans to pursue a career in physical, occupational, or speech therapy. . Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
This scholarship is designed to encourage minorities, ages 17 and older, to enter into the field of strength and conditioning. A minority is defined as an “ethnic minority,” as determined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Applicants must demonstrate they have been accepted into an accredited institution working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree in the strength and conditioning field. Awards in the amount of $2,000 are granted and are to be applied toward tuition charges accrued by the student.
This scholarship is designed to support those who identify as female, ages 17 and older, to enter into the field of strength and conditioning. Applicants must demonstrate they have been accepted into an accredited institution and are working toward an undergraduate or graduate degree in the strength and conditioning field. Awards in the amount of $2,000 are granted and are to be applied toward tuition charges accrued by the student.
The National Strength and Conditioning Association offers these awards to undergraduate student members with a 3.0 GPA are going for a degree in the strength and conditioning fields.
