$20,500/yr FEDERAL CAP
Graduate Student Limit · $100K AggregateA DPT Costs $120K. Your Cap Is $20,500/yr.
Do the Math.
DPT — Doctor of Physical Therapy
DPT programs cost $70K–$120K total over three years. But because Physical Therapy isn't classified as "Professional" — despite being a clinical doctorate requiring licensure — you're capped at $20,500 a year. That's a $15K–$40K annual gap every year of your program.
The federal loan barely covers rent. Who pays your tuition?
Total Cost of Attendance: $150K over 3 years
Estimated Gap
$88.5K total
Estimated Gap
$88.5K total
Representative costs — your gap depends on your specific program and school
Gap Calculator — Launching July 2026
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Tuition data verified across 260+ CAPTE-accredited DPT programsData from The 2026 Graduate Education Funding Crisis Report
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