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Graduate with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in just 2.5 years

Courses are taught in a Hybrid model (both online and in-person), flexible and convenient from the comfort of your own home.

  • Learn from a hybrid model with core faculty that are certified in online instruction. This learning approach offers you the opportunity to study from a location convenient to you and your life circumstances while attending onsite program sessions throughout the year.
  • Our DPT faculty consists of more than a dozen scholars and clinicians from around the US. All hold doctoral degrees, and several have advanced clinical certifications representing a variety of specialty training areas.
  • Apply knowledge and skills learned in academic courses to clinical experiences at one of our many active clinical partner sites across the country in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health, schools, and outpatient clinics.
  • Students complete two 16-week full-time clinical experiences in both medically-complex and community-based settings.
  • GRE is NOT required.
  • Begin this program with a bachelors degree and receive your Doctor of Physical Therapy in just 2.5 years.
     

Program Awards

Niche ranked the College of Saint Mary No. 11 among the Best Colleges for Kinesiology and Physical Therapy in America.

Degree Offered & Overview

Degree Offered & Overview

Graduate Degree Offered

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Program Details

Program Details

Start Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Program Length: 31 Months
Class Size: 60 students per cohort
Licensure: Upon doctoral graduation, candidates must pass the National Physical Therapy Exam and seek state licensure in order to practice.

Compliments and/or Feedback:

Positive feedback and/or concerns that fall outside of due process should be directed to:

Dr. Kimberly Varnado,Program Director kvarnado [at] csm.edu 402-399-2305 or Dr. Pam Humphrey, Associate Dean for Health Professions, phumphrey [at] csm.edu, 402-399-2696

Faculty

Faculty

Admissions Information

Admissions Information

DPT Admissions Decisions

Completion of basic requirements does not guarantee an interview or admission into CSM’s DPT program. CSM’s Physical Therapy Admission Committee uses a selection model to choose which candidates best qualify for the program and practice of the profession from a pool of applicants. Admission is based on quality of baccalaureate academic institution, cumulative and prerequisite GPA, difficulty of prior coursework, references, and applicant interview.

Apply Through PTCAS

In order to submit your application please follow this link to PTCAS. Once you have an account you will be able to find College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE. Follow the instructions and submit your application materials including: Resume or curriculum vitae, two letters of reference, community involvement, observation hours, etc. Please give about 2 weeks for us to review all of your materials and remember that all communication will be conducted through the email you provide.

Career Outlook

Career Outlook

Career Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor projects employment of physical therapists to increase by 21% through 2030. The national average median annual salary is $91,010.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration

Accreditation

Accreditation

The Doctor of Physical Therapy at College of Saint Mary is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email; accreditation [at] apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 402-399-2640.

State Authorization

College of Saint Mary seeks to make available all online programs/courses to residents of Nebraska and other states, and to allow completion of required clinical or practical experiences in those states. We work through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) process and with states directly to ensure that when authorization or licensure is necessary, required approvals are secured. Nebraska is a member of SARA and CSM is an approved SARA institution. As such, we adhere to a set of national standards for interstate offering of post-secondary distance education courses and programs. SARA also covers all interstate placements in clinical or practical situations among SARA member states, no matter the nature of the main program. However, not all states are SARA members (i.e. California). While we do monitor the laws in each state, authorization of distance education is a dynamic environment and prospective students should check often for updates. It is the student’s responsibility to understand current circumstances or special requirements in their state of residence.

Students Thrive Through Hybrid-Learning

Jarrod was inspired by his mother's injury to become a physical therapist. 

The hybrid-learning and competency-based model allowed for Jarrod to study from the comfort of his home and not worry about having to move to continue his education. Jarrod enjoys the on-campus program sessions, which allow him to build on the skills he has learned. “It’s a good experience. It’s intense, but it’s something we all look forward to,” he said.

Read More About Jarrod's Experience at CSM