Understanding UNC Department of Physical Therapy Tuition and Program Costs
The University of North Carolina (UNC) system offers a variety of physical therapy programs, each with its own structure and associated tuition costs. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the tuition fees and program costs associated with the UNC Department of Physical Therapy, along with related information about residency programs and other financial considerations.
Overview of UNC Physical Therapy Programs
The UNC Division of Physical Therapy, founded in 1957 by Dr. Margaret Moore, boasts a rich history of education, research, and clinical service integration. Located in Bondurant Hall within the Department of Health Sciences at the UNC School of Medicine, the program benefits from its co-location with other health programs, fostering interdisciplinary learning and clinical service opportunities. The University values a culture of team commitment, collegiality, respect for diverse viewpoints, and open communication. The UNC Division of Physical Therapy was also one of the first in the nation to offer post-professional education for physical therapists wanting to conduct the research necessary to advance our practice and profession.
Tuition Structure for Different Programs
Tuition costs at UNC vary depending on the specific program, its duration, and whether it is a full-time or part-time program. It's important to note that tuition is billed differently depending on the program. Here's a breakdown of some of the programs and their tuition structures:
Full-Time Programs: Several programs operate on a full-time basis, with tuition billed at a flat rate each term for the duration of the program. These include programs that are 5, 6, or 7 terms long.
DPT On-Campus Program: The DPT on-campus program is a full-time, 2.3-year, 7 term-program. Tuition is billed at a flat rate each term for the duration of the program.
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DPT Hybrid Program: The DPT hybrid program is a full-time, 2.3-year, 7 term-program. Tuition is billed at a flat rate each term for the duration of the program.
Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Program: The DC program is a full-time, 2.7-year, 8 term-program. Tuition is billed at a flat rate each term for the duration of the program.
One-Year Programs: Some programs are full-time, 1-year programs, and tuition is billed at the flat rate for the duration of the program.
Accelerated MBA Program: The rate for the MBA Accelerated Program under “Full-Time Per Academic Year" is for three terms.
EdD Program: The EdD is a 52-credit, part-time, hybrid program that takes 3 years to complete over 9 academic terms. Tuition is billed at the same rate for in-state and out-of-state students. Based on current tuition rates, the total tuition cost of the EdD program is $56,108 (subject to annual tuition increases).
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Specific Tuition Rates
As an example, the 3-term cost for students first entering in Spring 2026 is $53832. It's important to verify the most current tuition rates directly from the UNC Department of Physical Therapy, as these are subject to change.
Additional Costs and Fees
Beyond tuition, students should also budget for additional direct and indirect charges.
Direct Charges: These include tuition and mandatory fees.
Indirect Charges: These are additional expenses not charged by the university, such as rent and utilities, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. *Miscellaneous expenses include everyday expenses like professional attire for clinics, extra lab coats, vehicle maintenance, medical co-pays, etc. Students are responsible for all costs associated with their personal transportation to clinical rotations.
All students are required to provide proof of health insurance and maintain current insurance information on file. Elon University offers a student health insurance policy, Student Blue Plan, through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The cost of health insurance for 2026-2027 is $3,963.
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Deposits
All applicants accepted into the High Point University Doctor of Physical Therapy program must accept or decline our offer of conditional admission by submitting a non-refundable matriculation deposit of $1,000 by the deadline in their offer of admission. A space in the class is not guaranteed until the deposit has been received and accepted by High Point University. If you do not submit a deposit, the program may offer the place in the class to another applicant. The enrollment deposit is a non-refundable fee that admitted students pay to reserve a spot in their program. The deposit is applied to the first term's tuition.
Residency and Fellowship Programs
UNC also offers several post-graduate programs, including residency and fellowship programs, for licensed physical therapists seeking advanced training. These programs typically involve a combination of didactic study, mentored time with expert therapists, and focused clinical experiences. Here are some of the residency and fellowship programs offered:
UNC Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Program: This program is designed for licensed physical therapists to expand their knowledge and skills in clinical orthopedics to the level of a specialist. Orthopedic clinic work is completed in the UNC Division of Physical Therapy Faculty Clinics and UNC Hospitals Physical Therapy Clinics. We accept 5 residents per cohort.
UNC Health Acute Care Physical Therapy Residency Program: This program is an advanced, post-professional program for licensed physical therapists to expand their knowledge and skills in the acute care setting to the level of a specialist. The program is comprised of didactic study, mentored time with expert therapists, acute care clinic coverage and focused clinical experiences with other acute care health care providers.
UNC Pediatric Physical Therapy Residency Program: The residency program is comprised of didactic study, mentored time with expert therapists, pediatric clinic coverage and focused clinical experiences with other pediatric health care providers. Residents will develop excellence in examination, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, advocacy, teaching and the integration of best evidence into pediatric care. We accept 1 resident per year.
UNC Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program: The residency program is comprised of didactic study, mentored time with expert therapists, neuro based clinic coverage and focused clinical experiences with other neurology heath care providers. Residents will develop excellence in examination, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, advocacy, teaching and the integration of best evidence into neurologic care. We accept 2 residents per cohort.
UNC Women's Health Physical Therapy Residency Program: The residency program is comprised of didactic study, mentored time with expert therapists, pelvic health based clinic coverage and focused clinical experiences with other women’s health care providers. Residents will develop excellence in examination, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, advocacy, teaching and the integration of best evidence into women’s health care. We accept 2 residents per cohort. For more information contact Kristel Maes.
UNC Health Neonatal Fellowship Program: The UNC Health Neonatal Fellowship Program is comprised of didactic study, mentored time with expert therapists, neonatal and pediatrics based clinic coverage and focused clinical experiences with other neonatal health care providers. Fellows will develop excellence in examination, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, advocacy, teaching and the integration of best evidence into neonatal care. We accept 1 fellow per cohort.
Clinical Placements
UNC offers Physical Therapy services in a variety of settings. For inpatient we have Acute Care, Rehab, Pediatrics, and Burn Center. In the outpatient setting we have Orthopedics, Neurology, Women’s Health / Lymphedema, Pediatrics, and Spine. Clinical placements are offered in cooperation with North Carolina affiliated colleges and universities only.
Accreditation
The University of North Carolina Wilmington is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on November 1, 2030. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the [professional/technical] phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in [professional/technical] courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure.
Additional Information
Residency: 1) We welcome applications for residents and non-residents of North Carolina. 2) We are not able to provide individual program tours or site visits. We do have information sessions which occur during the summer, beginning in early June and ending early August.
UNC Wilmington’s DPT Program: Are you a college junior or senior thinking about your next step? The University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program offers a fast-track, 30-month path to becoming a licensed physical therapist. Located just minutes from the beach, our program combines a rigorous, evidence-based curriculum with a supportive hands-on learning environment and a vibrant coastal lifestyle.You’ll gain the skills, confidence and clinical experience needed to thrive in today’s evolving healthcare landscape. The demand for physical therapists is growing. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook for Physical Therapy lists the median pay rate of $48.57 per hour or $101,020 per year. The handbook further states that there are currently 267,200 Physical Therapist jobs. Enhance patient movement and function using evidenced-based manual interventions, exercise, and equipment.
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