The physiotherapy program at the University of Southern California is ranked number one in the 2008 "U.S. News & World Report" rankings. Not only is it ranked as the best physiotherapy program in the Western region of colleges, but it is also ranked best in the nation. The school is located on a beautiful campus in Los Angeles, California. The education focuses on working relevant clinical experience into every term; students spend a total of 44 weeks in clinical clerkships. Students earn a doctor of physical therapy degree, and employment within six months is reported by 100 percent of graduates. Tuition for USC's physiotherapy program is $29,450 per year as of January 2011.
"U.S. News & World Report" ranks the University of Pittsburgh's physiotherapy program as tied for second place nationally. In the Middle States region for higher education, it is the top physiotherapy department. A doctor of physical therapy degree is awarded after a three-year course of study. Students learn and practice within the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center system and have the option of specializing in sports medicine, industrial rehabilitation, women's health and hand therapy. Over the past three years, 100 percent of students who obtained their doctorate at this university passed the physical therapy licensure exam. As of January 2011, in-state tuition is $9,119 per term and out-of-state tuition is $11,081 per term.
The physiotherapy department at Washington University in St. Louis is tied for second place in "U.S. News & World Report" rankings. Its location in St. Louis, Missouri, places it in the North Central region of schools. The faculty of Washington University's physiotherapy department are widely recognized in their fields of expertise, with several holding positions with the American Physical Therapy Association. All students who graduated from the program since 2006 have passed the national licensure exam. As of January 2011, tuition costs for the doctor of physical therapy program are $15,308 per academic semester and $11,894 for four total clinical segments.
The physiotherapy department at U.S. Army-Baylor University places fifth in "U.S. News & World Report" rankings. Located in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, this is the top physiotherapy program in the Southern region of colleges. Students accepted into this program become officers in the four branches of the United States military. Students are compensated as officers, and thus, no tuition costs are incurred. Officers in this program are paid approximately $43,000 annually, and the in-school period counts towards the student's seven-year military service commitment.