Despite the appeal of joining the physical therapy profession, and its necessity as a vital health care service, the cost of a doctor of physical therapy degree has created a significant barrier to the ability of recent graduates to achieve financial stability, and it is a deterrent to promising students who must think carefully about the financial implications before pursuing a physical therapy career.

This report, based in part on a nationwide APTA survey of 3,073 PTs and 596 PTAs, asserts there is no single "silver bullet " to undoing the damage rising education costs are having on the profession. Education debt among PTs and PTAs is a pervasive problem, and taking on the challenges will require strategies that are just as comprehensive.

The report includes recommendations, as well as a summary of actions APTA has been taking to address the problem.