Best Colleges for PT, OT, and Kinesiology
By Lynne Fuller, Founder of College Flight Path
When considering what avenue within the health professions to explore, many look to PT and OT as ways to be a helper and a healer rather than attending medical school or becoming a nurse. When considering each avenue there are commonalities in the pathways that include taking anatomy, physiology, biology, psychology, and statistics. However, how each course of study is applied is where these paths diverge. Let’s start by understanding what to major in and then what each job does.
Quick Comparison: PT vs OT vs Kinesiology
| Category | Physical Therapy (PT) | Occupational Therapy (OT) | Kinesiology (Undergraduate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Restore movement, reduce pain, and improve function after injury/surgery or with chronic conditions. | Enable daily living & work skills; adapt tasks/environments after illness, injury, or disability. | Human movement, exercise science, and performance; foundations for health, fitness, and rehab careers. |
| Typical Degree Path | DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy); options include accelerated 3+3 PT programs. | MS/OTD (Master’s or Doctorate in OT); options include accelerated 3+2 OT programs. | BS/BA in Kinesiology or related (exercise science, athletic training, sports medicine, biomechanics, exercise physiology). |
| Common Undergrad Majors | Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Biology, Health Sciences, Psychology. | Kinesiology, Psychology, Biology, Health Sciences, Sociology. | Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Health Sciences, Biology. |
| Core Prerequisites (typical) |
Anatomy & Physiology I/II (with lab), Biology (lab), Chemistry (lab), Physics (lab), Statistics, Psychology; patient-care/shadowing hours. Check each program’s physical therapy prerequisites. | Anatomy & Physiology I/II, Developmental & Abnormal Psychology, Sociology, Biology, Statistics; observation hours. Confirm occupational therapy prerequisites per school. | Math/Stats, Biology, Chemistry/Physics (varies), Anatomy, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics; internship/practicum recommended. |
| Clinical / Fieldwork | Full-time clinical rotations (often 30+ weeks total) during DPT; pre-admission observation hours commonly required. | Level I & II fieldwork (full-time placements) during MS/OTD; pre-admission observation hours often required. | Internships, labs, research, and practicum; some programs include strength & conditioning or coaching placements. |
| Licensure / Certification | NPTE + state licensure; CAPTE-accredited DPT required. | NBCOT exam + state licensure; ACOTE-accredited OT program required. | Not required for the degree itself; optional credentials (e.g., CSCS, NSCA-CPT, ACSM, NASM) enhance employability. |
| Program Accreditation | CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education). | ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education). | No single accreditor across all programs; look for strong labs, research, and outcomes. |
| Settings & Roles | Hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehab centers, home health, sports/orthopedics, pediatrics, geriatrics. | Hospitals, rehab, schools, mental health, home health, hand therapy, geriatrics, pediatrics. | Fitness/performance facilities, corporate wellness, athletic departments; roles include personal trainer, fitness instructor, strength & conditioning coach; also prep for PT/OT grad school. |
| Salary Outlook (typical U.S. ranges)* |
~$95k–$110k median, higher with specialization/setting/region. | ~$90k–$105k median, varies by setting/region/specialty. | Entry roles ~$40k–$70k; strength & conditioning, corporate wellness, or advanced certs can increase earnings. |
| Best For Students Who… | Enjoy hands-on rehab, movement science, and structured clinical pathways. | Value problem-solving daily tasks, adaptive equipment, and patient-centered independence. | Want broad movement science training, coaching/performance paths, or a pre-PT/OT springboard. |
| Fast-Track Options | Combined 3+3 PT programs (BS→DPT). | Combined 3+2 OT programs (BS→MS/OTD). | Pre-PT / Pre-OT concentrations; honors or accelerated BS tracks. |
*Ranges are illustrative and vary by region, setting, experience, and specialization. Check current BLS/state data.
Major list during shortlist season
Use this quick reference while comparing programs and building your shortlist.
- Kinesiology (general)
- Exercise Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Biomechanics
- Sports Medicine
- Athletic Training
- Health Sciences
- Pre-Physical Therapy (Pre-PT)
- Pre-Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT)
- Rehabilitation Sciences
- Human Movement Science
- Strength & Conditioning
- Public Health (rehab focus)
Tip: If you’re eyeing accelerated pathways, ask about 3+3 PT programs (BS→DPT) and 3+2 OT programs (BS→MS/OTD), plus course mapping for prerequisites.
MAJOR: Kinesiology is the study of human movement and includes courses in anatomy, exercise, human biology, physics, public health, nutrition, and strength training to name a few. There are many subvariations of the degree, including exercise science, exercise physiology, athletic training, sports medicine, biomechanics, and kinesiology. As a result of a degree, job prospects include work as a personal trainer, fitness consultant, fitness instructor, athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach, or dietitian. You can also go on to graduate school for a doctoral degree in PT or a master's in OT. This major can prepare students for research work or the assessment and treatment of patient injuries.
CAREER: Physical Therapists help patients improve their movement and manage pain after an injury or surgery. It requires a great deal of hands-on work that can occur in private offices, clinics, hospitals, on-site in patients’ homes, and in nursing homes. Typically, this is a PhD program where students major in health sciences or kinesiology during their undergraduate years and then apply to a traditional program or engage in an accelerated 3+3 program.
CAREER: Occupational Therapists help patients who have experienced an injury, illness, or disability with skills that help them manage their lives. This can include supporting a patient after they have experienced a stroke and need to use tools or alternatives to buttons and zippers. Typically, this is a master's degree program where students major in health sciences or kinesiology during their undergraduate years and then apply to a traditional program or enroll in a 3+2 program.
There are excellent programs in the health sciences across the country; however, when investigating a program, look for ones that are CAPTE-accredited. To research accredited programs, check out the American Physical Therapy Association’s directory here. Meanwhile, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) is the gold standard for OT programs in the US. Check out their searchable directory here for options with search criteria.
When looking into PT programs, it is important to consider graduation rate, the pass rate on exams, cost, location, size, and ability to engage in fieldwork. We researched 100 programs and looked for nine that focused on holistic patient-centered care and offered the most advanced coursework and classrooms where students excelled. Some of our notable nine include Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Delaware, the University of Iowa, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Miami, Marquette University, MUSC, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Arcadia University.
When researching OT programs, it is important to consider the same factors as PT programs, and after culling from a list of 100 schools, we considered these to be our notable nine: Boston University, Colorado State University, Thomas Jefferson University, Ohio State University, Tufts University, University of Florida, Quinnipiac University, University of Missouri, and Duquesne University.
When considering a job in the healthcare profession, becoming a doctor or nurse is not the only path, looking into OT, PT, and a range of sciences surrounding human movement are all worthy of consideration! Reach out for any support you need in applying to these programs by emailing hello@collegeflightpath.com or clicking here to book a free 15-minute phone call.
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