Costs & Financial Aid
The University of Washington Doctor of Physical Therapy program is a self-sustaining, fee-based program administered by the Division of Physical Therapy in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in collaboration with UW Continuum College.
Program and Living Expenses
The UW DPT program is 11 consecutive quarters (33 months) long. Tuition is charged as a flat quarterly rate. For the 2022–2023 academic year, tuition is $7,941 per quarter for resident (Washington state) students and $13,021 per quarter for nonresidents. Payment is due by the third Friday of the quarter. Tuition rates are subject to change and may increase 5–10% per year.
In addition to tuition, you’ll need to budget for other program-related costs, such as required UW and program fees, books, and travel and housing expenses for out-of-town clinical experiences. (Students are required to do at least one of their clinical experiences outside of the greater Seattle area.)
Estimated Total Program Expenses
| Resident | Nonresident | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $87,400 | $143,200 |
| Fees | $4,700 | $4,700 |
| Books and Copies | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Immunization | $500 | $500 |
| Clinical Experience-Related Expenses | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Total | $104,100 | $159,900 |
Estimated Living Expenses
Below are estimated living expenses for a single person living in Seattle. A one-bedroom, off-campus apartment typically runs $1,500 a month, and the U-Pass ($92 a quarter) may cover local transportation needs.
| Housing | $49,500 |
| Food and Entertainment | $27,000 |
| Health Insurance | $2,000 |
| Transportation | $1,000 |
| Total | $79,500 |
Washington State Residency
Out-of-state resident? Find out what’s needed to establish Washington state residency.
Financial Aid and Other Funding
Because the UW Doctor of Physical Therapy program is full time, students have little time to work while enrolled. If you need financial assistance, you can apply for various forms of financial aid, including federal financial aid, scholarships and loans. For more information, visit the fee-based programs page of the Office of Student Financial Aid website. Fee-based students are not eligible for tuition exemptions or University grants.
Residents of Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Wyoming can pursue tuition support through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s Professional Student Exchange Program. This program enables qualified residents of these states to pay reduced tuition rates because physical therapy is not available as a field of study at public institutions in their home state. Call 303-541-0200 for more information.
You may also check the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Financial Resources for Students. They have a list of various scholarships and awards, loan forgiveness opportunities information and financial education tools on their website.
Doctor of Physical Therapy Scholarship Fund
Currently the following scholarships are available to DPT students:
Jo Ann McMillan Endowed Fellowship Fund
Maureen McGee Endowed Fund
Dr. Marjorie A. Moore Endowed Scholarship
Mary Gross Hutchinson Memorial Scholarship
Dr. Mark Guthrie Scholarship
The amount of each scholarship award could vary depending on available funding and number of students selected. The program will let students know how they can apply.