Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

63 Best Universities in California for Physical Therapy

We ranked the top 63 universities for Physical Therapy in California based on strict academic metrics. Our methodology evaluated 3.44M subject-specific papers and 168.42M citations to find the strongest faculties. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Stanford

Stanford University

For Physical Therapy

#6 in United States #7 in North America

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

San Francisco

University of California – San Francisco

For Physical Therapy

#7 in United States #10 in North America

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

3

Los Angeles

University of California – Los Angeles

For Physical Therapy

#13 in United States #17 in North America

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

4

San Diego

University of California-San Diego

For Physical Therapy

#19 in United States #26 in North America

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

5

Los Angeles

University of Southern California

For Physical Therapy

#29 in United States #37 in North America

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

6

Davis

University of California – Davis

For Physical Therapy

#52 in United States #64 in North America

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

7

Berkeley

University of California – Berkeley

For Physical Therapy

#57 in United States #70 in North America

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

8

Irvine

University of California – Irvine

For Physical Therapy

#61 in United States #74 in North America

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

9

San Diego

San Diego State University

For Physical Therapy

#79 in United States #93 in North America

36% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1897 Founded

10

Riverside

University of California – Riverside

For Physical Therapy

#181 in United States #206 in North America

76% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

11

Pasadena, CA

California Institute of Technology

For Physical Therapy

#184 in United States #210 in North America

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

12

Santa Barbara

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Physical Therapy

#185 in United States #212 in North America

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

13

Santa Cruz

University of California – Santa Cruz

For Physical Therapy

#315 in United States #351 in North America

66% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

14

Los Angeles

Loyola Marymount University

For Physical Therapy

#395 in United States #436 in North America

45% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1345 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

15

Stockton

University of the Pacific

For Physical Therapy

#277 in United States #313 in North America

71% Acceptance

15,924 Enrollment

1332 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

16

Culver, CA

West Los Angeles College

For Physical Therapy

#322 in United States #358 in North America

100% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

17

Loma Linda

Loma Linda University

For Physical Therapy

#130 in United States #151 in North America

74% Acceptance

3,665 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

18

San Diego

Alliant International University – San Diego

For Physical Therapy

#304 in United States #340 in North America

915 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

2001 Founded

$25,481 Net Price

19

Claremont, CA

For Physical Therapy

#536 in United States #586 in North America

7% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

20

Riverside

California Baptist University

For Physical Therapy

#703 in United States #762 in North America

85% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

21

Fullerton

California State University – Fullerton

For Physical Therapy

#154 in United States #177 in North America

91% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

22

Seaside

California State University – Monterey Bay

For Physical Therapy

#487 in United States #534 in North America

97% Acceptance

28,467 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

1994 Founded

23

Arcata

Humboldt State University

For Physical Therapy

#407 in United States #448 in North America

98% Acceptance

18,258 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

24

San Diego

Point Loma Nazarene University

For Physical Therapy

#650 in United States #704 in North America

84% Acceptance

19,212 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1902 Founded

25

Long Beach, CA

California State University – Long Beach

For Physical Therapy

#235 in United States #267 in North America

46% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

26

San Marcos, CA

California State University – San Marcos

For Physical Therapy

#280 in United States #316 in North America

95% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1989 Founded

27

Merced

University of California – Merced

For Physical Therapy

#523 in United States #572 in North America

91% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

2005 Founded

28

San Diego

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

For Physical Therapy

#610 in United States #661 in North America

76% Acceptance

281 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

29

San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo

For Physical Therapy

#289 in United States #325 in North America

31% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

30

Hayward, CA

California State University – East Bay

For Physical Therapy

#541 in United States #591 in North America

97% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

31

Fresno

California State University – Fresno

For Physical Therapy

#268 in United States #304 in North America

95% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

32

Pomona

Western University of Health Sciences

For Physical Therapy

#222 in United States #254 in North America

8% Acceptance

3,738 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1977 Founded

33

Los Angeles

California State University – Northridge

For Physical Therapy

#244 in United States #277 in North America

93% Acceptance

23,163 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1958 Founded

34

Carson, CA

California State University – Dominguez Hills

For Physical Therapy

#478 in United States #525 in North America

93% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

35

Oakland

Samuel Merritt University

For Physical Therapy

#403 in United States #444 in North America

66% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

36

Sacramento

California State University – Sacramento

For Physical Therapy

#239 in United States #272 in North America

94% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

37

Thousand Oaks

California Lutheran University

For Physical Therapy

#634 in United States #686 in North America

76% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1959 Founded

38

San Francisco

San Francisco State University

For Physical Therapy

#241 in United States #274 in North America

96% Acceptance

5,891 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

39

Rohnert Park

Sonoma State University

For Physical Therapy

#593 in United States #643 in North America

93% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

40

Rosemead

University of the West

For Physical Therapy

#657 in United States #711 in North America

100% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1990 Founded

41

Los Angeles

California State University – Los Angeles

For Physical Therapy

#307 in United States #343 in North America

91% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1947 Founded

42

Palo Alto

Palo Alto University

For Physical Therapy

#218 in United States #249 in North America

12% Acceptance

3,007 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1975 Founded

43

San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

For Physical Therapy

#146 in United States #169 in North America

85% Acceptance

22,563 Enrollment

1420 Avg SAT

1857 Founded

44

San Bernardino

California State University – San Bernardino

For Physical Therapy

#394 in United States #435 in North America

94% Acceptance

16,237 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

45

Oakland

Saybrook University

For Physical Therapy

#633 in United States #685 in North America

85% Acceptance

1,874 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

46

Malibu

Pepperdine University

For Physical Therapy

#381 in United States #421 in North America

63% Acceptance

1,006 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1937 Founded

47

Los Angeles

Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science

For Physical Therapy

#312 in United States #348 in North America

39% Acceptance

1,144 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1966 Founded

48

Whittier

Southern California University of Health Sciences

For Physical Therapy

#408 in United States #449 in North America

100% Acceptance

959 Enrollment

$51,174 Net Price

49

Chico

California State University – Chico

For Physical Therapy

#414 in United States #455 in North America

93% Acceptance

31,943 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1887 Founded

50

Santa Clarita

Master’s University and Seminary

For Physical Therapy

#734 in United States #794 in North America

84% Acceptance

27,636 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1927 Founded

51

Orange, CA

Chapman University

For Physical Therapy

#327 in United States #363 in North America

65% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

52

San Rafael

Dominican University of California

For Physical Therapy

#501 in United States #548 in North America

83% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1890 Founded

53

Anaheim

West Coast University – Orange County

For Physical Therapy

#776 in United States #841 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,926 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1909 Founded

54

Pomona

California State Polytechnic University – Pomona

For Physical Therapy

#344 in United States #381 in North America

75% Acceptance

38,313 Enrollment

1525 Avg SAT

1938 Founded

55

Santa Barbara

Fielding Graduate University

For Physical Therapy

#366 in United States #405 in North America

82% Acceptance

518 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1974 Founded

56

San Diego

University of San Diego

For Physical Therapy

#338 in United States #375 in North America

52% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1350 Avg SAT

1949 Founded

57

Bakersfield

California State University – Bakersfield

For Physical Therapy

#643 in United States #695 in North America

94% Acceptance

42,003 Enrollment

1965 Founded

58

Fullerton

Marshall B Ketchum University

For Physical Therapy

#681 in United States #738 in North America

23% Acceptance

530 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1904 Founded

59

Claremont, CA

Claremont Graduate University

For Physical Therapy

#662 in United States #717 in North America

35% Acceptance

18,492 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1925 Founded

60

Los Angeles

Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

For Physical Therapy

#695 in United States #754 in North America

46% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1979 Founded

61

San Francisco

University of San Francisco

For Physical Therapy

#379 in United States #419 in North America

62% Acceptance

12,326 Enrollment

1290 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

62

Azusa

Azusa Pacific University

For Physical Therapy

#465 in United States #512 in North America

88% Acceptance

910 Enrollment

1111 Avg SAT

1899 Founded

63

Vallejo

Touro University California

For Physical Therapy

#685 in United States #742 in North America

1,367 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1997 Founded