Tuition and Financial Assistance for DPT Students

While the costs of a professional degree such as the Doctorate of Physical Therapy can be significant, the return on the investment is extremely rewarding---both personally and financially.  The average annual salary of physical therapists in Illinois is nearly $65,000. Nationally, over 1/3 of PT professionals earn well over $60,000 per year.  Bradley's DPT program is a particularly attractive investment considering that our program is priced thousands of dollars less than similar programs and the cost of living in the Peoria area is at least 1/3 less than that of larger urban areas such as Chicago.  Typical Bradley DPT graduates will recapture their program costs within two years of graduation.

Costs and Billing

Bradley's DPT program price of $57,000* (cohort starting June 2008) covers the entire 3-year program and is inclusive of all tuition and required fees.  Three payments of $19,000* are due June 15 of each year.  Any financial assistance a student may have will be deducted at the beginning of each billing cycle. Books and supplies are the student's responsibility and are in addition to the program cost.  An increase in program price is expected each year.

Graduate Assistantships

The Department of Physical Therapy usually offers a limited number of half-time Graduate Assistantships (on the order of 3-4 positions). These positions are competitive and apply to only the first academic year of the program. In return for working within the department for 10 hours per week, a Graduate Assistant will receive a partial tuition waiver ($5090 for the 2007-2008 academic year*) and a stipend. Because our application process begins so early, we cannot guarantee these positions, even once offered, until late in the Spring semester. If you are interested in a position, a separate application process is required. As you apply for the half-time positions you may be considered for a full-time assistantship within the College of Education and Health Science for the first academic year. This requires 20 hours of work per week for another department. Due to the very heavy class schedule in the first year, only those with the highest academic background will be considered.

Student Loans

Effective July 1, 2007, DPT students can borrow $20,500 annually in federal Stafford loans.  To qualify, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year they wish to borrow. FAFSA filing and renewal is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov .  In order for loan proceeds to be available at the requirement date, Bradley recommends filing the FAFSA by March 1st.  Other borrowing opportunities can be explored at Bradley's Student Financial Services website: http://sfs.bradley.edu or the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) web site: http://apta.org/Education/enrolledstudents

*Subject to change for each new cohort.