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The College of St. Scholastica

Your Pathway to a Fulfilling Career

Do you want to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy? St. Scholastica is well-known for its wide variety of healthcare programs, like exercise physiology and psychology, which perfectly complement the graduate PT program. And, we’ll be with you every step of the way. Our pre-PT advisors will work with you to make sure you’re taking the courses you’ll need to qualify for the next steps.

Through this program, you will learn in an educational setting that embraces the five values from the Benedictine heritage, preparing you to care for others. We teach, mentor and work in ways shaped by the emphasis on Community, Hospitality, Respect, Stewardship and Love of Learning. You can also build a community with other aspiring physical therapists through the PT club.

Discover a bright future in a career with increasing demand and a median entry-level salary that provides ample opportunities for success.

Receive Program Info and Financial Aid Options

  • Detailed program overview
  • Personalized financial aid
  • Individual admissions support

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Benedictine Scholarship

All new first-year applicants to St. Scholastica will be awarded either the Benedictine Scholarship or the Access Award, upon admission to the College.

Financial Aid

100% of traditional incoming undergraduates receive some type of scholarships. The average for scholarships, grants and/or loans is $31,841.

Degree Details

Tuition

Are You Looking for a Face-to-Face (on-campus) Experience?

St. Scholastica’s longstanding commitment to inclusivity and generous financial aid packages make our world-class educational programs accessible to students from any background.

Curriculum

Visit our Catalog to view information regarding Preparatory Programs. Be sure to create your course plan in consultation with your advisor.

Career Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for physical therapists is expected to grow by 14% between 2023 and 2033. This is well above average and represents an opportunity for those entering the profession or physical therapists who want to advance their credentials.

  • PTs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, private practice, rehab centers, home healthcare agencies, academic and research settings
  • Salaries vary based on position, years of experience, degree of education, geographic location and practice setting

Pair with a Language

Boost your brainpower and give yourself a competitive edge in our global economy by pairing your major with a language. St. Scholastica offers programs and courses in American Sign Language, German, Ojibwe and Spanish.

DPT Admission Pathway

St. Scholastica offers an early assurance pathway to our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. High school and transfer students with a strong academic record are eligible to apply for the criterion-based, early admission program when they apply to St. Scholastica. A maximum of 20 applicants are accepted into the early assurance pathway each year. This guarantees that students who successfully apply and maintain their eligibility will be accepted into the DPT program.

Eligibility and Admission Process

Eligibility

High School Students
  • Students applying directly from high school must have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 or higher
  • Any intended major is eligible, with a focus on EXP
Transfer Students
  • Students transferring from another college or university must have a cumulative college GPA of 3.3 or higher and require at least 60 additional credits taken at St. Scholastica to earn a bachelor’s degree
  • Any intended major is eligible, with a focus on EXP

Admission Process

  • Apply for admission to The College of St. Scholastica
  • Declare intent to pursue the Doctor of Physical Therapy graduate program on your application for admission
  • Prepare a statement to answer the following prompt: Grounded in a values-based, inclusive and student-centered culture, we develop physical therapists who are prepared for meaningful work as clinicians, scholars and leaders. Please share with the committee your career goals after graduation and how you believe a St. Scholastica education will impact your work and what outcomes you hope to accomplish through your professional work.
  • Applications for the early assurance pathway close on February 1. Applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the Office of Admissions and the top applicants will be shared with the PT Department Chair.
  • Offers will be extended for a place in the early assurance pathway until the 20 slots are filled
  • Applications received after February 1 will be reviewed if open slots are available
  • Students who meet the criteria but apply after the 20 slots are full will be placed on a waitlist and can be entered into the pathway if one of the 20 students opts out or fails to meet the requirements noted below
  • Students who are not admitted into this pathway remain eligible to apply to the St. Scholastica Doctor of Physical Therapy program through the standard application process
  • All chosen applicants will be coded by the Office of Admissions for tracking purposes and a list will be provided to Academic Advisement and EXP Advisement to ensure degree tracking. The attribute code to go into Banner if a student is coded Early Assurance Accepted = YES so that the department and advising can run cognos reports each year to see which applicants were admitted. The attribute code will be EADP. Integration is set up so that Early Assurance DPT = yes in SF triggers the attribute to go to Banner.

Maintaining Eligibility

  • Students admitted into the DPT early assurance pathway must meet the following criteria to remain eligible for entry into the DPT graduate program:
    • Achieve a 3.3 or higher GPA each term/semester and cumulatively; you must also complete all DPT program prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better
    • Meet St. Scholastica student behavior expectations as outlined in the Student Handbook, Code of Conduct and Policy Library
    • Failure to meet these requirements will result in the loss of early assurance status with no probationary period, however, students would still be able to apply to the DPT program through the standard admissions pathway
  • Prior to entry into the DPT program, students on this pathway must also
    • Apply to the DPT program through the Physical Therapy Central Application System (PTCAS) and students will enter “Early Assurance Recipient” and include the year on the application. Applications must be submitted by the priority due date.
    • Pass a federal and state background check
    • Submit a final academic transcript
  • Students on this pathway are strongly encouraged to complete a minimum of 40 hours observing, volunteering or working in a physical therapy setting. Ideally, students should experience two unique physical therapy practice settings (inpatient, outpatient, etc.).

Graduate academic programs have different financial aid packages and options for students. We can help you review options and get a clear picture of how much assistance you may expect to receive when entering your graduate program. Accepted international students should note the post-acceptance requirements for international students.

Meet Our Faculty

Experienced, Dedicated and Distinguished Educators

Expect to be heard, to be challenged and to be involved. St. Scholastica faculty are world-class scholars and experts in their field who invest in your success. Our values of community, respect, stewardship, hospitality and love of learning reflect our faculty’s commitment to lifting up others and celebrating our common humanity.

The College of St. Scholastica

Nondiscrimination Notice: The College of St. Scholastica is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment free from discrimination and harassment. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin and other protected statuses. View full statement.