Physical therapy scholarships
Funding your physical therapy degree can be challenging. To help you, we have compiled national and state physical therapy and health care-specific scholarships and loan repayment programs. Each scholarship is offered at the state or national level, so you don’t have to sift through school-specific scholarships. Also check your school website or financial aid office to see whether they offer additional scholarship opportunities. If you are still deciding where to apply, our guide to physical therapy school admissions explains what programs typically ask for, and our guide to the degree and licensing path covers how to become a physical therapist.
The eligibility requirements and award amounts listed below are subject to change at the discretion of the awarding organizations. Please check the appropriate website for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding eligibility, deadlines, and award amounts. Each entry shows the cycle year or window its sponsor states and names its source with the date we retrieved it.
The sponsored program cards featured on this page were last updated in October 2026. For the most current program information, please refer to the official website of the respective school.
National physical therapy scholarships
AMBUCS Scholarship Program
AMBUCS has supported more than 16,000 therapy students since 1955 and awards scholarships to graduate students in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology.
- Award amount: $600 to $1,500, plus one two-year award of $6,000.
- Who it’s for: Graduate students in accredited physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, or audiology programs.
- Key requirements: Financial need, a completed FAFSA, and a one-page personal statement.
- Timing: AMBUCS accepts applications each year from February 1 to April 1. The 2026 window has closed.
Source: AMBUCS scholarship program page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Daughters of the American Revolution Occupational/Physical Therapy Scholarship
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) award a national scholarship for students accepted into or enrolled in an accredited school or program of occupational therapy or physical therapy, including art or music therapy.
- Award amount: A one-time $5,000 scholarship, with four awards offered.
- Who it’s for: Students who demonstrate financial need and have been accepted into or are enrolled in an accredited occupational therapy or physical therapy program, including art or music therapy.
- Key requirements: Financial need, U.S. citizenship (which DAR’s general scholarship information states for all applicants), and a letter of acceptance or a transcript showing you are enrolled.
- Timing: Applications go through DAR’s online portal, and mailed or emailed applications are not accepted. The portal is closed and will reopen on November 1, 2026. The pages we reviewed do not state a closing date.
Source: DAR nursing and medical scholarships page and DAR scholarship information, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Arcadia University’s nationally ranked Doctor of Physical Therapy program is available in an online, hybrid model. Led by acclaimed faculty, Arcadia’s DPT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Students are trained through a mix of online sessions, on-campus immersions, and clinical experiences.
- Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
- Complete in 26 months
- 32 weeks of in-person experience
HIE Help Center Scholarship for Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Students
This private scholarship helps one future therapist each year.
- Award amount: $1,000 to one student annually, paid to the school.
- Who it’s for: Undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at a U.S. institution of higher education who plan a career in physical, occupational, or speech therapy.
- Key requirements: A minimum 3.25 GPA, a transcript, and a response to the sponsor’s prompt, submitted as either an essay of about 750 to 1,000 words or a creative project such as a photo project, multimedia presentation, creative writing, or performance piece (videos cannot exceed five minutes). Past, present, and future clients of ABC Law Centers are not eligible.
- Timing: The 2026 window ran June 30 to July 31 and has closed. Dates for 2027 were not yet posted.
Source: HIE Help Center scholarship page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
IHS Health Professions Scholarship Program
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Health Professions Scholarship funds students preparing for health careers in exchange for service in IHS or tribal communities.
- Award amount: IHS pays tuition and required fees directly to your school and provides a monthly living stipend and a one-time payment for educational expenses. The pages we reviewed do not give a total award.
- Who it’s for: Members of federally recognized American Indian Tribes or Alaska Native villages. For the 2026–2027 cycle, IHS’s eligible degree chart lists doctoral physical therapy under the Health Professions Scholarship. Check the chart for each later cycle.
- Key requirements: A minimum two-year service commitment in an IHS Scholarship Program-approved position at an approved site, with one year of service per year of support after that minimum. Some positions may be limited to specific geographic areas.
- Timing: The 2026–2027 cycle has closed. IHS states that the next application opens December 15, 2026.
Source: IHS eligible degree chart, Apply page, and financial aid page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
APTA Mary McMillan Scholarship Award
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) offers this award to physical therapist (PT) and physical therapist assistant (PTA) students who are nearing graduation.
- Award amount: APTA’s award page does not list an amount.
- Who it’s for: APTA members in good standing who are in the final year of a PT or PTA program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and within 12 months of completing graduation requirements.
- Key requirements: A nomination from faculty or the student body of your program. Students cannot self-nominate, and each institution may nominate one PT and one PTA student.
- Timing: Nominations are accepted September 1 to December 1 (the page does not state a year), and recipients are notified in May.
Source: APTA Mary McMillan Scholarship Award page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
APTA Access and Opportunity Scholarship Fund Awards
APTA’s Access and Opportunity Scholarship Fund lists a Faculty Development Scholarship Award and awards for PT and PTA students.
- Award amount: APTA’s page does not list an amount.
- Who it’s for: For the student awards, APTA members in the final year of a CAPTE-accredited PT or PTA program who are within 12 months of completing graduation requirements, with self and peer nominations accepted. For the Faculty Development Scholarship Award, APTA member PTs who are full-time faculty in an accredited or developing PT program and are pursuing a post-professional doctoral degree, with at least two semesters or three quarters of that coursework completed when the award is presented.
- Timing: Applications are accepted September 1 to December 1 (the page does not state a year), and recipients are notified in May.
Source: APTA Access and Opportunity Scholarship Fund Awards page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
APTA Outstanding Student Awards
APTA recognizes one PT student and one PTA student each year through nomination.
- Award amount: $1,000 for the PT student and $500 for the PTA student.
- Who it’s for: APTA members in the final year of a CAPTE-accredited PT or PTA program who are within 12 months of completing graduation requirements. Self and peer nominations are accepted.
- Timing: Nominations are accepted September 1 to December 1. The page does not state a year.
Source: APTA Outstanding PT Student and PTA Student Awards page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
APTA Catherine Worthingham Fellows CSM Student Scholarship Award
This APTA award helps students attend APTA’s Combined Sections Meeting (CSM).
- Award amount: Complimentary CSM registration plus a $1,000 travel and housing stipend, with at least 15 awards offered.
- Who it’s for: APTA members enrolled in the second or final year of a CAPTE-accredited Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program by the time of CSM. Previous winners are not eligible, and self and peer nominations are accepted.
- Timing: Nominations run September 1 to October 2, which has passed for this year.
Source: APTA Catherine Worthingham Fellows CSM Student Scholarship Award page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Rizing Tide Crest Scholarship
Rizing Tide’s Crest Scholarship supports students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who are entering a Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
- Award amount: Ten Crest awards of up to $14,000 and ten Rizing Star awards of up to $5,000, each renewable up to two times.
- Who it’s for: Students entering the first or second year of a DPT program, or a PTA-to-DPT bridge program, at a CAPTE-accredited U.S. program. Rizing Tide lists these heritage groups: American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern/North African, and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. Multi-ethnic applicants qualify with 50% representation from that list.
- Key requirements: A minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA in recent studies, and U.S. citizenship or DACA status.
- Timing: The 2026 application window has closed. The page does not state the deadline date.
Source: Rizing Tide Crest Scholarship page (modified June 1, 2026), retrieved October 29, 2026.
Rizing Tide Surge Scholarship
The Surge Scholarship helps graduating physical therapy students and licensed PTs pay for an accredited residency.
- Award amount: Up to $10,000 once, paid directly to the residency program. Three Surge scholarships are offered each year, and a fourth covers the full $42,250 cost of the HODS/AACE EMG/NCV residency in New York.
- Who it’s for: Graduates of CAPTE-accredited PT programs with underrepresented racial or ethnic heritage as Rizing Tide defines it, who attend a residency accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) in the United States.
- Key requirements: A minimum cumulative 3.2 GPA in your PT program, and U.S. citizenship or DACA status.
- Timing: The 2026 deadline was October 6, 2026, and it has passed.
Source: Rizing Tide Surge Scholarship page, retrieved October 29, 2026.
National Association of Black Physical Therapists (NABPT) CAPP Course Scholarship
The National Association of Black Physical Therapists (NABPT) offers a scholarship toward CAPP courses. The application page is hosted on the aptapelvichealth.org website.
- Award amount: Two awards per calendar year, each $1,000 toward CAPP-Pelvic or CAPP-OB courses. Recipients who register for an in-person course also receive a $250 travel stipend, reimbursed after the event with receipts. Awards must be used within the same calendar year.
- Who it’s for: Applicants with an NABPT affiliation who are PT students in the second or third year of their program, or licensed PTs or PTAs.
- Timing: The second 2026 cycle closed September 1, 2026.
Source: NABPT CAPP Course Scholarship page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
American Academy of Physical Therapy (AAPT Scholarships)
The American Academy of Physical Therapy (AAPT) lists an annual Academic Award for Excellence for PT and PTA students.
- Award amount: The page says AAPT will award one scholarship and does not state an amount.
- Who it’s for: PT and PTA students in the final year of training. The sponsor’s award details describe the scholarship as going to a student with an underrepresented racial or ethnic background, and it considers GPA, leadership, community engagement, and financial need.
- Timing: Applications are due December 31 each year. The page does not state a cycle year, so confirm details with AAPT before you apply.
Source: AAPT scholarships page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
National physical therapy loan forgiveness programs
VA Education Debt Reduction Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) repays education debt for clinicians hired into eligible VA positions.
- Benefit: Up to $40,000 per year, with a maximum of $200,000 over a five-year period.
- Who it’s for: Clinicians hired into eligible VA positions. The VA pages we reviewed do not name physical therapy, so confirm that the position you want is eligible.
- Key requirements: You must be hired into an eligible position before you apply.
Source: VA Education Debt Reduction Program flyer, retrieved October 29, 2026.
HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Faculty Loan Repayment Program repays loans for health professions faculty who sign a service contract.
- Benefit: Up to $40,000 over two years, plus a tax offset.
- Who it’s for: Faculty from economically and geographically vulnerable backgrounds, as HRSA defines them, who hold an eligible health professions degree or certificate and teach at an approved health professions school. HRSA’s fiscal year 2026 application guidance also sets citizenship or permanent-resident status and eligible faculty and degree conditions, and covers allied health faculty, of which physical therapy is one field.
- Key requirements: A service contract of two years or more, qualifying educational loans, and an employer matching agreement or waiver as the guidance describes.
- Timing: The 2026 cycle has closed. HRSA’s page was last reviewed in September 2026.
Source: HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce Faculty Loan Repayment Program page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
The IHS Loan Repayment Program helps clinicians pay off student debt while serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
- Benefit: Up to $50,000 for an initial two-year service commitment.
- Who it’s for: Clinicians in professions IHS lists as eligible, which include physical therapy at the master’s and DPT levels.
- Timing: IHS states it is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2027 competition.
Source: IHS Loan Repayment Program pages, retrieved October 30, 2026.
State physical therapy scholarships
Arizona
The Arizona Physical Therapy Association (AzPTA) offers scholarships for PT and PTA students in Arizona programs.
- Award amount: Seven PT scholarships and four PTA scholarships. The page does not list dollar amounts.
- Who it’s for: APTA student members in the final year of an Arizona PT or PTA program.
- Key requirements: An unofficial transcript showing your GPA, a personal essay of up to 300 words on your career goals, and a statement of up to 300 words on your experience and activities, all sent in one PDF or Word file.
- Timing: The 2026 application window ran March 1 to August 15, 2026. The page does not give dates for the next cycle.
Source: AzPTA student scholarships page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Illinois
Team Rehabilitation partners with the Illinois Physical Therapy Foundation (IPTF) to fund scholarships for Illinois PT and PTA students.
- Award amount: $3,000 per award, with multiple awards offered.
- Who it’s for: Student PT and PTA members of the Illinois Physical Therapy Association (IPTA) in good standing who have completed at least one clinical experience. Out-of-state DPT students who are IPTA members may also apply.
- Timing: Applications open November 15, 2026 and are due January 31, 2027. Notification is by March 1, 2027.
Source: IPTF Team Rehab Scholarship page, retrieved October 29, 2026.
Indiana
Linda Craig Memorial Scholarship
The Pacers Foundation lists the Linda Craig Memorial Scholarship for Indiana undergraduates studying medicine, sports medicine, physical therapy, athletic training, or a related field.
- Award amount: The page does not state an amount for this award.
- Who it’s for: Undergraduates at Indiana colleges in those fields who have completed at least one year of coursework.
- Key requirements: A personal statement, a transcript, and a recommendation from a professor.
- Timing: The 2027–28 application is open, with an April 30, 2027 deadline.
Source: Pacers Foundation scholarships page, retrieved October 29, 2026.
Iowa
Olive C. Farr Scholarship
Iowa APTA lists Olive C. Farr scholarships for PT and PTA students in Iowa programs.
- Award amount: Four PT scholarships and one PTA scholarship per year. An amount is not published.
- Who it’s for: APTA student members in Iowa programs who have completed their first year.
- Timing: The latest deadline posted, in the 2025 scholarship rules, was January 10, 2025, so confirm current dates with Iowa APTA before you apply.
Source: Iowa APTA awards page and 2025 scholarship rules, retrieved October 30, 2026.
New York
Teach NYC Physical Therapy Scholarship Program
Also known as the Jose P. scholarship program, this New York City Department of Education initiative supports future school-based occupational therapists and physical therapists.
- Award amount: Full and partial tuition, according to the Department of Education’s overview, and the program depends on available funding.
- Who it’s for: Students in their third year, fourth year, or graduate year of professional study at participating colleges who are enrolled full-time in a physical therapy program leading to New York State certification.
- Key requirements: Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, a $75 non-refundable application fee, an agreement to take a full-time physical therapist job with the Department of Education in a high-need area after you are licensed, and two years of service for each year of scholarship or any part of one.
- Timing: Applications run January through April for the fall term, and deadlines are subject to change.
Source: NYC Department of Education occupational and physical therapy scholarships page and incentives overview, retrieved October 30, 2026.
North Carolina
APTA North Carolina Scholarships
APTA North Carolina offers six scholarships, including the Keskula Family Scholarship for DPT students.
- Award amount: The Keskula Family Scholarship is $1,250. Amounts for the other awards are not listed in the sources we reviewed.
- Who it’s for: Students in North Carolina programs who are APTA North Carolina members and have completed at least one semester.
- Timing: The 2026 cycle ran March 1 to June 30 and has closed.
Source: APTA North Carolina scholarships page, retrieved October 29, 2026.
Wisconsin
Through the Physical Therapy Fund, a trust of APTA Wisconsin, students in their last year of professional education in Wisconsin can apply for scholarships each year. One application covers every possible award. All applicants are considered for a WPT Scholars award based on financial need, and applicants can also apply for either the Chris Crivello award or the Tracy Rasor award below, but a student can receive only one scholarship. The Fund’s trustees set the amounts each spring.
Chris Crivello Community Service Award
- Award focus: Recognizes a student with a commitment to community service and the profession of physical therapy.
- Who it’s for: Students with financial need in a CAPTE-accredited Wisconsin program who are APTA or APTA Wisconsin members. PT students apply as they approach their final year, and PTA students may apply once during their two years.
Tracy L. Rasor Sports Medicine Scholarship
- Award focus: Supports a student with a strong interest in sports medicine physical therapy.
- Who it’s for: Students with financial need in a CAPTE-accredited Wisconsin program who are APTA or APTA Wisconsin members. PT students apply as they approach their final year, and PTA students may apply once during their two years.
- Timing for both: Applications and two letters of recommendation are due August 15 each year.
Source: Wisconsin Physical Therapy Fund page, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Other ways to pay for physical therapy school
If you are working while you study, ask your employer whether it offers educational assistance. Under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code, an employer can provide up to $5,250 per calendar year in tax-free educational assistance for 2025 and 2026, and the payments may cover graduate-level courses. The IRS adjusts the limit for inflation for taxable years beginning after 2026.
Source: IRS Fact Sheet FS-2026-10 (April 2026), retrieved October 29, 2026.
Information last updated: October 2026