Physical therapist (PT) professional education prepares students to practice physical therapy. Physical therapists start around $90,000, which is much higher than the average salaries of other college graduates. It is among the top healthcare careers in the U.S. Moreover, PT graduates of the top 30 programs have a 100 percent employment rate, which shows the massive demand for PT’s. The physical therapy job market will grow by 40% over the next few years. Most DPT programs require anywhere from 2-4 years of study, including clinical experience.
Unlike many PA programs, all of the top 30 PT programs at the doctorate level (DPT) require the GRE general test scores. Naturally, to apply to an excellent physical therapy program, students must do well on the GRE. Generally, a 50th percentile score in each of the three sections is considered acceptable.
Here are the top 30 PT programs, as per U.S. News rankings, and the respective average GRE scores of their admitted applicants. For some applications, there is a minimum GRE requirement.
These scores have been taken from the PT schools’ websites. Some schools did not publicly provide their GRE scores, so we reached out to them to get this information.
Ranking School Name GRE Quantitative Average GRE Verbal Average GRE Analytical Writing Average
1 University of Delaware 156 155 4.5
2 University of Pittsburgh 154 153 4.0
3 Washington University in St. Louis 155 156 4.5
4 Northwestern University 156 153 4.0
5 University of Iowa 157 155 4.5
6 University of Southern California (Minimum GRE score is 300+) 156 156 4.5
7 Duke University 157 159 4.5
8 Emory University (Minimum GRE score is 297+ & 3.0 AWA) 155 155 4.0
9 Creighton University 153 155 4.0
10 MGH Institute of Health Professions 151 152 4.0
11 Ohio State University 149 153 4.0
12 University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill 154 154 3.5
13 Marquette University 153 151 4.0
14 University of Alabama—Birmingham 153 151 4.0
15 University of Colorado--Denver 155 155 4.5
16 University of Florida 154 155 4.5
17 University of Kansas Medical Center 153 151 4.0
18 University of Utah 151 156 4.5
19 U.S. Army-Baylor University (Minimum GRE score is 300+ & 148+ Quant, 3.5 AWA) 153 156 4.5
20 Boston University (Minimum GRE score is 141+ Quant, 150+ Verbal, 3.5 AWA) 148 155 4.5
21 Medical University of South Carolina (Minimum GRE score is 300+, 146+ Quant, 146+ Verbal) 155 154 4.5
22 University of Miami (Minimum GRE score is 147+ Quant, 149+ Verbal, 3.0 AWA) 153 154 4.5
23 Virginia Commonwealth University 153 152 4.0
24 Arcadia University (Minimum GRE score is 303+, 150+ Quant, 151+ Verbal, 4.0 AWA) 154 155 4.5
25 Columbia University 155 156 4.5
26 George Washington University 156 156 4.5
27 Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences 154 157 4.5
28 Regis University 153 155 4.0
29 University of California--San Francisco - San Francisco State University 154 152 4.5
30 University of Kentucky (Minimum GRE score is 290+) 150 155 4.0
In this Article
What is a good GRE score for PT school?
GRE scores are used by most PT schools admissions committee to eliminate the weakest applicants. From the data above, we can easily deduce that a 155+ Verbal, 155+ Quantitative, and a 4.0+ on the essay writing is generally considered a competitive score for Physical therapy (PT) programs. Even where applications have a minimum score requirement, the acceptable scores are in the late 140’s or around the 50th percentile.
If you have a low CGPA (below 3.3), scoring above 310 on the GRE will be crucial to strengthening your application. The admissions committee highly desires academic prowess, and CGPA/GRE are the primary ways of demonstrating it. You would be well placed if your CGPA is above 3.5, and your GRE is above 305. Moreover, research/work/clinical experience, coupled with strong recommendations, will shore up your chances.
How important is the GRE for PT school?
Like a GPA, the GRE provides a quantifiable measure of a PT applicant’s academic abilities. The GRE offers an additional benefit of comparing applicants from different universities, regardless of which college they have attended. It levels the playing field for all applicants.
From the statistics shared on PT school’s websites, they do place a greater emphasis on a respectable GRE score. Whereas many schools in other disciplines don’t require a minimum GRE score, many PT programs do have minimum cut-offs. This shows that GRE is an essential factor in making admissions decisions in Physical therapy programs. So, leave no stone unturned in preparing for the GRE and aim for as good a score as you can.
Is GRE required for PT school?
Yes, none of the Top 30 programs waive off the GRE score requirement for admissions to the PT schools. Several PA (Physician Assistant) programs have no GRE requirements, but all PT schools have mandatory GRE requirements. Some even have minimum cut-off scores.
Can you get into PT school with a low GRE?
GRE is a crucial part of your PT school application, and you should try your best to get an above-average score (60+ percentile). PT is a high earning field and, therefore, very competitive. Moreover, most programs do not have a considerable intake size – generally, PT schools do not accept more than 40 students each year.
Other parts of your application, like GPA, recommendation letters, essays, clinical experience, and resume, are equally important. So, if you have a low GRE, you must improve other aspects of your application. PT school admissions also consist of an interview. Usually, it is a group interview and focuses on how well you conduct yourself. In short, there are tons of other factors that determine your admissions chances to a good PT program. Nevertheless, a good GRE will play a significant role in supporting your application.