Most students will have a choice about what physical therapy program to attend for their doctoral degree. Many things will be considered when making that choice such as quality of instruction, philosophy of program, geographical location, licensure outcomes and certainly cost. Particularly for those graduating from UC or CSU educational institutions, the costs at an independent college like Samuel Merritt College and others can seem extremely high. We have provided some detailed information about both value and cost of attendance at Samuel Merritt College. We would encourage each of you to ask these same questions at the other schools you are considering.
What is tuition?
Please click here [1] for the current tuition rate. For 2007-2008, for example, that is $10,691 per 3 semesters.
Will my tuition increase each year?
For those entering Fall 2006 and Fall 2007, we are offering a fixed tuition. This means that your basic tuition will not increase while you are earning your degree, assuming you make normal academic progress in your program. Most other schools will raise tuition every year by about 10%.
What is the total tuition for the program?
For those entering Fall 2007, the total tuition for the program (7 semesters) is $74,837. Students in the DPT program complete their education with a six-month clinical internship. There is no charge for tuition during this 6 months, students instead pay a single Clinical Internship Fee as noted.
Why is the six month internship special and how does it relate to cost and value?
The six month internship is special at Samuel Merritt College both in terms of cost and value. We believe it is the culminating experience to prepare you to be an exceptional clinician upon your graduation. In addition to not paying tuition during the internship, 50-60% of the clinical sites provide paid stipends to the interns. The pay ranges from $800 to $1,500 per month. While receiving this salary, students remain eligible for financial aid and student loan repayment continues to be deferred. The internship is such an important and formative experience for our students, about 60% will choose the site of their internship as their first place of employment following graduation.
What about fees?
For 2007-2008, fees for the DPT program are:
| Anatomy Lab fees (1st year) | |
| Fall semester | $240/course |
| Spring semester | $240/course |
| Student Body Association fee | $50/year |
| Graduation fee | $300 (final semester only) |
| Clinical Internship fee | |
| (final six month internship only) | $1,500 |
What is the cost of student health insurance?
For 2007-2008, the estimated cost of health insurance is $2,272 per year, including medical, dental and vision coverage.
Why isn't SMC listed in the rankings of PT programs in US News & World Report?
Please read about our concerns about the USN&WR rankings here [2].
Why isn't SMC listed in the rankings of PT programs in US News & World Report?
Please read about our concerns about the USN&WR rankings here [2].
What is the loan default rate of Samuel Merritt College graduates and why is that important?
At SMC, we have a 0% default rate. That means our graduates are getting outstanding jobs at the completion of their programs. These jobs come with exceptionally strong salaries allowing students to successfully repay their loans.
Are there additional scholarships available to incoming DPT students?
We have small scholarships available to our students on a competitive basis. Students are also encouraged to compete for national and regional scholarships that may be available for students pursuing studies in physical therapy.