Physical therapy scholarships
Funding your physical therapy degree can be challenging. To help you, we have compiled a list of dozens of 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. Remember to also check your school website or with your financial aid office to see if they offer additional scholarship opportunities.
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.
The sponsored program cards featured on this page were last updated in March 2022. For the most current program information, please refer to the official website of the respective school.
National physical therapy scholarships
Amount: Up to $6,000
Description: Applicants must be students enrolled in a graduate-level program for physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, or hearing audiology.
Daughters of the American Revolution Occupational/Physical Therapy Scholarship
Amount: $2,000
Description: Awarded to two students in financial need who have been accepted to or attend an accredited occupational therapy program, including physical therapy.
Arcadia University
College of Health Sciences
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Earn your DPT from a hybrid program. Experience on-campus immersions and apply skills learned online to patients in person. Complete the program in 25 months. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree but do not need to submit GRE test scores for admission.
- Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
- Complete in 25 months
- 32 weeks of in-person experience
SPONSORED
HIE Help Center Scholarship for Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Students
Amount: $1,000
Description: This scholarship is for physical, therapy, or speech therapy students with a 3.0 GPA at a U.S. institution.
IHS Health Professions Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Description: This scholarship is for Native American and Alaska Native health professions students. They must have a 2.0 GPA, practice at an Indian health facility for two years following graduation, and be U.S. citizens who are members of a federally recognized tribe or village.
International Order of The King’s Daughters and Sons Health Career Scholarships
Amount: Varies
Description: This scholarship is for U.S. citizens studying in various health fields. Physical therapy students must have completed two years of study.
APTA Mary McMillan Scholarship Award
Amount: Up to $5,000
Description: This scholarship is for students in their last year at an accredited physical therapy or physical therapist assistant program.
APTA Minority Scholarship Award
Amount: Varies
Description: For physical therapy students who are U.S. citizens in their final year of schooling, are a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, and have shown a commitment to contributing in the areas of minority affairs and services.
National physical therapy loan forgiveness programs
Education Debt Reduction Program (PDF, 1.8 MB)
Amount: Up to $200,000
Description: Those who have earned their physical therapy degree can receive up to $40,000 in student loan repayment per year in exchange for working for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Recipients may continue to receive aid for up to five years so long as they continue to work for the VA.
HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program
Amount: Up to $40,000
Description: An award for those in a health care profession who come from a disadvantaged background and commit to being a faculty member at a health professions institution for two years.
Indian Health Service Loan Repayment Program
Amount: Up to $50,000
Description: A scholarship for health care professionals who commit to serve two years in a health facility for American Indian or Alaska Native communities.
State physical therapy scholarships
Arizona
Amount: Varies
Description: A scholarship fund for students enrolled in PT and PTA programs in Arizona.
Illinois
Judith Harris and Dr. Monica Vohmann Scholarship
Amount: $1,000
Description: This scholarship is for Illinois Physical Therapy Association (IPTA) student PT members in good standing who are enrolled as first-year DPT students. Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need.
Amount: $3,000
Description: This scholarship is for IPTA student PT or student PTA members who are enrolled in an Illinois PT or PTA program. Applicants must have completed a clinical experience and be within their second or third year of their DPT if a PT student.
Indiana
Linda Craig Memorial Scholarship presented by St. Vincent’s Sports Medicine
Amount: Varies
Description: This scholarship is for undergraduate students enrolled in a physical therapy, medicine, or sports medicine program at an Indiana college or university. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and have at least one grading period completed.
Arcadia University
College of Health Sciences
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Earn your DPT from a hybrid program. Experience on-campus immersions and apply skills learned online to patients in person. Complete the program in 25 months. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree but do not need to submit GRE test scores for admission.
- Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
- Complete in 25 months
- 32 weeks of in-person experience
SPONSORED
Iowa
Amount: Unknown
Description: A scholarship for physical therapy and PTA students enrolled at an Iowa institution who have completed their first year.
New York
Teach NYC Physical Therapy Scholarship Program
Amount: Varies
Description: A scholarship for students who agree to serve as a physical therapist in a New York City public school for two years upon graduating.
Wisconsin
Amount: Unknown
Description: A scholarship for Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association (WPTA) members who expect to graduate from an accredited PT or PTA program within one year.
Tracy L. Rasor Sports Medicine Scholarship
Amount: Unknown
Description: A scholarship for WPTA members who expect to graduate from an accredited PT or PTA program within one year.
Last updated November 2023