Physical Therapy Assistant: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Physical Therapy Assistant programs equip students with the specialized knowledge and hands-on skills needed to support physical therapists in delivering patient-centered rehabilitation care. Graduates are prepared to assist in the implementation of therapeutic treatment plans, monitor patient progress, and contribute to recovery through evidence-based interventions, all under the guidance of licensed professionals.
- Applied Anatomy and Physiology: A comprehensive study of human body systems, focusing on structural and functional relationships essential for understanding movement and injury.
- Behavioral Sciences: Explores psychological and social factors influencing patient behavior, motivation, and adherence to treatment regimens.
- Biomechanics: Examines the mechanical principles underlying human movement, including forces, motion, and joint function in physical therapy contexts.
- Clinical Documentation: Teaches accurate, standardized record-keeping practices to ensure continuity, compliance, and quality in patient care.
- Clinical Pathology: Provides foundational knowledge of disease processes and their impact on musculoskeletal, neurological, and functional health.
- Communication: Develops effective interpersonal and professional communication skills for interacting with patients, families, and healthcare teams.
- Exercise Physiology: Investigates how physical activity affects bodily systems, with emphasis on metabolic and cardiovascular responses during rehabilitation.
- Kinesiology: Focuses on the science of human movement, including muscle function, joint mechanics, and neuromuscular control.
- Neuroscience: Covers the structure and function of the nervous system as it relates to motor control, sensory processing, and recovery from neurological conditions.
- Professional Standards and Ethics: Instills accountability, legal responsibilities, and ethical decision-making in clinical practice and patient interactions.
Physical Therapy Assistant Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Physical Therapy Assistant Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Physical Therapy Assistant degrees, including Physical Therapist Assistants. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 108,010 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants 31-2021 | $65,510 | $46,020 - $87,630 | 108,010 | $31.50 |
Physical Therapy Assistant Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $49,840 in South Dakota to $79,410 in California—a 59% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Massachusetts, and Alaska. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 108,010 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Physical Therapy Assistant by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering Physical Therapy Assistant programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Physical Therapy Assistant is found at Keiser University, Ft Lauderdale (105 graduates), Pima Medical Institute (PMI), Tucson (73 graduates), Universal Healthcare Careers College (UHCC) (60 graduates), The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP), McAllen Campus (54 graduates), and Institute of Technology (FIT) (53 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,780 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keiser University |
Associate's
|
105 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | keiseruniversity.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
73 | Tucson, Arizona | Private | pmi.edu |
| Universal Healthcare Careers College (UHCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
60 | Los Angeles, California | Private | uhcc.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
54 | McAllen, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Institute of Technology (FIT) |
Associate's
|
53 | Clovis, California | Private | iot.edu |
| Stanbridge University |
Associate's
|
50 | Irvine, California | Private | stanbridge.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
49 | Mesa, Arizona | Private | pmi.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
44 | San Diego, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Associate's
|
42 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| South College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
41 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Private | south.edu |
| American Career College |
Associate's
|
40 | Anaheim, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
39 | Denver, Colorado | Private | pmi.edu |
| CBD College |
Associate's
|
39 | Los Angeles, California | Private | cbd.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
39 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Fox College |
Associate's
|
38 | Tinley Park, Illinois | Private | foxcollege.edu |
| American College of Healthcare and Technology (ACHT) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
38 | Riverside, California | Private | ach.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
37 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| Broward College (BC) |
Associate's
|
34 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Public | broward.edu |
| GateWay Community College (GWCC) |
Associate's
|
32 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Associate's
|
32 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| Whatcom Community College (WCC) |
Associate's
|
32 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | whatcom.edu |
| American Career College (ACC) |
Associate's
|
32 | Ontario, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| ECPI University (ECPI) |
Associate's
|
31 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | ecpi.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
30 | North Hollywood, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| Baker College |
Associate's
|
30 | Owosso, Michigan | Private | baker.edu |
| Macomb Community College |
Associate's
|
30 | Warren, Michigan | Public | macomb.edu |
| Clarkson College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
30 | Omaha, Nebraska | Private | clarksoncollege.edu |
| Carl Albert State College (CASC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
30 | Poteau, Oklahoma | Public | carlalbert.edu |
| Greenville Technical College (GTC) |
Associate's
|
30 | Greenville, South Carolina | Public | gvltec.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
|
30 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
|
29 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
29 | Roanoke, Virginia | Public | virginiawestern.edu |
| Provo College |
Associate's
|
29 | Provo, Utah | Private | provocollege.edu |
| Central Penn College (CPC) |
Associate's
|
28 | Summerdale, Pennsylvania | Private | centralpenn.edu |
| Sacramento City College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
27 | Sacramento, California | Public | scc.losrios.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
27 | Dallas, Texas | Private | concorde.edu |
| University of Indianapolis (UIndy) |
Associate's
|
26 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | uindy.edu |
| Lone Star College System (LSC) |
Associate's
|
26 | The Woodlands, Texas | Public | lonestar.edu |
| Mid-America Technology Center |
Other Award
|
26 | Wayne, Oklahoma | Public | matech.edu |
| George C Wallace State Community College |
Associate's
|
25 | Hanceville, Alabama | Public | wallacestate.edu |
| College of the Sequoias (COS) |
Associate's
|
25 | Visalia, California | Public | cos.edu |
| Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Hutchinson, Kansas | Public | hutchcc.edu |
| UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ (UCNJ) |
Associate's
|
25 | Cranford, New Jersey | Public | ucc.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
25 | Seattle, Washington | Private | pmi.edu |
| Casa Loma College |
Associate's
|
24 | Sherman Oaks, California | Private | casalomacollege.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Associate's
|
24 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Delgado Community College |
Associate's
|
24 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Public | dcc.edu |
| Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) |
Associate's
|
24 | Coon Rapids, Minnesota | Public | anokaramsey.edu |
| Stark State College |
Associate's
|
24 | North Canton, Ohio | Public | starkstate.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
24 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | pmi.edu |
| South University |
Associate's
|
24 | Tampa, Florida | Private | N/A |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
|
23 | Garden Grove, California | Private | concorde.edu |
| Seminole State College of Florida |
Associate's
|
23 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
| St Philip's College |
Associate's
|
23 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | alamo.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) |
Associate's
|
23 | Wadley, Alabama | Public | suscc.edu |
| Herzing University |
Associate's
|
23 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | herzing.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Associate's
|
22 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU–I) |
Associate's
|
22 | Rexburg, Idaho | Private | byui.edu |
| Metropolitan Community College (MCC-KC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | mcckc.edu |
| Nassau Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
22 | Garden City, New York | Public | ncc.edu |
| Indian Capital Technology Center (ICTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | Muskogee, Oklahoma | Public | ictech.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
22 | San Marcos, California | Private | pmi.edu |
| Ohlone College |
Associate's
|
21 | Fremont, California | Public | ohlone.edu |
| St Petersburg College (SPC) |
Associate's
|
21 | St. Petersburg, Florida | Public | spcollege.edu |
| Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Associate's
|
21 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
| Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC) |
Associate's
|
21 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | otc.edu |
| Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
21 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | occc.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Associate's
|
21 | Houston, Texas | Private | pmi.edu |
| San Diego Mesa College |
Associate's
|
20 | San Diego, California | Public | sdmesa.edu |
| City Colleges of Chicago (MXC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | ccc.edu |
| Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Kansas City, Kansas | Public | kckcc.edu |
| Lake Superior College (LSC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | lsc.edu |
| St Catherine University (St. Kate’s) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
20 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stkate.edu |
| New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) |
Associate's
|
20 | East Greenwich, Rhode Island | Private | neit.edu |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Conway, South Carolina | Public | hgtc.edu |
| Volunteer State Community College (Vol State) |
Associate's
|
20 | Gallatin, Tennessee | Public | volstate.edu |
| Del Mar College (DMC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Public | delmar.edu |
| Western Technical College |
Associate's
|
20 | El Paso, Texas | Private | westerntech.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Associate's
|
20 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) |
Associate's
|
20 | Annandale, Virginia | Public | nvcc.edu |
| Tidewater Community College (TCC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | tcc.edu |
| John C Calhoun State Community College |
Associate's
|
19 | Tanner, Alabama | Public | calhoun.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Associate's
|
19 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| State College of Florida (SCF) |
Associate's
|
19 | Bradenton, Florida | Public | scf.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Associate's
|
19 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| University of Saint Francis (USF) |
Associate's
|
19 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Private | sf.edu |
| Saint Louis Community College (STLCC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Bridgeton, Missouri | Public | stlcc.edu |
| Genesee Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Batavia, New York | Public | genesee.edu |
| Craven Community College |
Associate's
|
19 | New Bern, North Carolina | Public | cravencc.edu |
| Owens Community College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Perrysburg, Ohio | Public | owens.edu |
| Murray State College (MSC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Tishomingo, Oklahoma | Public | mscok.edu |
| Mt Hood Community College (MHCC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Gresham, Oregon | Public | mhcc.edu |
| Trident Technical College (TTC) |
Associate's
|
19 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | tridenttech.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRH) |
Associate's
|
19 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Public | upr.edu |
| Suffolk County Community College (SUNY) |
Associate's
|
19 | Selden, New York | Public | sunysuffolk.edu |
| Florida National University (FNU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
19 | Hialeah, Florida | Private | fnu.edu |
| Bryant & Stratton College |
Associate's
|
19 | Wauwatosa, Wisconsin | Private | bryantstratton.edu |
| Jefferson State Community College (JSCC) |
Associate's
|
18 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | jeffersonstate.edu |
| South University |
Associate's
|
18 | Royal Palm Beach, Florida | Private | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Physical Therapy Assistant programs
How much can I earn with a Physical Therapy Assistant degree?
Salaries for Physical Therapy Assistant graduates vary by role and location. Physical Therapist Assistants earn a median of $65,510 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $79,410 compared to $49,840 in South Dakota. Approximately 108,010 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Physical Therapy Assistant programs?
Currently 365 accredited institutions offer Physical Therapy Assistant degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Keiser University, Ft Lauderdale (105 graduates), Pima Medical Institute (PMI), Tucson (73 graduates), and Universal Healthcare Careers College (UHCC) (60 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Physical Therapy Assistant growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 5,390 in 2010 to a peak of 5,938 in 2020, before declining slightly to 5,633 in 2023-24. This represents a 5% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Physical Therapy Assistant degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Physical Therapist Assistants. Related occupations employ approximately 108,010 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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