Physical Therapy School

Rating Process

The NuHealth Rating is calculated by assigning points in 10 categories which have been reported to be most important to actual PT students and practicing physical therapists. Data for assigning scoring is taken from information reported to The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) as well as on individual program websites. Each category is allocated an equal amount of points, however, sections can be weighted more heavily based on preference in the custom NuHealth Program Report Booklet to generate an individualized program list for applying.



This is the only platform that provides organized listing of program statistics in one place for easy, side-by-side comparison of the most important factors to incoming students.

U.S. based DPT Programs are scored and organized into 10 domains:


1- Cost Score - How a program compares in cost to the national average(mean) cost of tuition and fees. Programs that cost equal or less than the average are assigned the highest available score. Cost of books, room/board and other expenses are not taken into account


2- Graduation Rate Score - Success of the program in graduating its students (influenced by dropout/fail out rate)


3- Pass Rate Score - Success of a program in preparing students to pass the National Physical Therapy Exam after graduating


4- Employment Rate Score - Success of a program reflected by its graduates' ability to secure employment after graduation


5- Student Satisfaction/Value Score - Overall satisfaction in the value of a program as reported by its current students


6- Alumni Satisfaction/Value Score - Overall satisfaction in the value of a program as reported by its alumni


7- Specialty Score - Based on the number of ABPTS/ABPTRFE specialties and concentrations represented by full time faculty. This can be helpful for applicants that may be interested in pursuing a particular specialty as well as faculty mentorship in that area.


8- Faculty Score - A program's potential to provide faculty mentorship and oversight given its student- to-faculty ratio. Programs with a ratio equal to or less than the national average ( 12:1) or better receive the highest available score


9- Curriculum Analysis Score*** - How well a program curriculum develops and prepares students for success in each of the 6 special learning domains based on number of courses, course descriptions and available syllabi. These domains have been identified by current therapists and students as the most important/significant areas that need more attention in DPT programs for success in the field. Academic literature also supports these domains as strong indicators for professional success in the field.


10- Experiential Approaches - How well a program provides and integrates experiential learning opportunities to develop and practice skills and knowledge in community settings/and or with real individuals from certain populations through a guided hands-on approach. Factors included in the score are number of clinical affiliations and total weeks of affiliations, simulation lab experiences, community based service learning



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***It is important to note that CAPTE establishes curriculum requirements and standards every program must meet to obtain accreditation. NuHealth Analysis Score helps programs stand out by highlighting how well a program promotes certain tenants of clinical excellence within its curriculum to prepare future providers for the greatest effectiveness and outcome success in their careers. These are the most important areas as reported by several samples of Physical Therapy students and practicing Physical Therapists and is supported in academic literature.



Those tenants are:


  • Utilization of Evidence Informed Practice & Clinical Decision Making

  • Promotion of Patient Centered Care (Communication, Empathy)

  • Understanding of BioPsychoSocial Model (with emphasis on Pain Education)

  • Advanced Training in Exercise Prescription

  • Appropriate Use & Execution of Manual Therapy Techniques and other passive interventions (communication and Evidence based defense)

  • Familiarity with Healthcare Business & Administration procedures