Find the best masters or PhD degree in physical therapy

In order to become a physical therapist, you have to meet state licensing requirements, which means completing at least a master’s degree program in the field. This takes five to six years as a full-time student, and most educational programs cost thousands of dollars per year. If you don’t want to graduate with tons of debt, scholarships and grants could be the perfect solution for you. With the help of these forms of financial aid, you can attend school to become a physical therapist no matter what your budget.

Physical Therapy Scholarships

There are literally hundreds – maybe even thousands – of scholarships you can consider if you are a student studying to be a physical therapist. Scholarships are given based on merit and do not have to be repaid after you graduate, making them an attractive option when compared to student loans. There are scholarships specific to physical therapy students, as well as scholarships available for all students regardless of field of study. At the master’s degree level, you can find fellowships as well, which are extremely similar to scholarships, but often come attached to responsibilities to serve your school as a teaching assistant or research assistant. Along with finding scholarships directly from college, you can also find physical therapy scholarships from The American Physical Therapy Association, The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, Tylenol, and your state’s government health department.

Physical Therapy Grants

Grants are like scholarships, except they are given to students who show financial need, rather than fully based on merit. As an undergraduate physical therapy student, you can apply for the federal Pell Grant, which is a program that awards money to all students attending accredited universities and colleges as long as their families meet financial requirements. As a graduate student, you’ll no longer be eligible for the Pell Grant, but there are a number of other sources for funding that you can consider. These include the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association, the Special Olympics, and the Texas Physical Therapy Education and Research Foundation. Most schools also offer grants directly for students, and if you’re interested in completing specific research while in school, you may also qualify for specific grants that can be used for these projects.