Listening to Our Students: What are the Most Important Factors When Choosing a Physical Therapy Program.

Abstract

Introduction: Technology, distance learning, and social media have changed the landscape of physical therapy education. Modifications are needed to meet the needs of applicants and align with the current healthcare environment.

Purpose: To identify the most important factors students consider when selecting a physical therapist education program.

Methods: A survey including free response options was shared with physical therapist education program students by chairpersons and through student interest groups.

Results: 545 responses representing 46 states and all CAPTE geographical regions were analyzed. The most important factors when selecting a program were: location (65.9%), tuition (64.8%), perception of physical therapy education quality (39.1%), and national board pass rate (34.1%). The least important factors were: technology utilization (74.3%), class size (46.1%), and national ranking/ reputation (45.1%). Also, the majority of respondents preferred in-person educational delivery (94.7%). 75.4% reported program length was not a factor in applying to a program.

Conclusions: Programs should seek to meet the needs of applicants with consideration of meaningful elements in choosing a program. Students ranked "location" and "tuition" as primary considerations for choosing a program, which may be related to curtailing debt by living at home while in school. "Program quality," over "reputation/ranking," suggests the importance of a robust curriculum, which is viewed as a predictor of passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).