The University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) is proud of our programs’ consistently high standings in select rankings by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2025 edition of Best Graduate Schools, four SHRS programs continue to rank among the top ten in the nation with another moving up 24 spots from its position on the list in 2023.
SHRS graduate programs were ranked as follows:
Physician Assistant Studies
“Thanks to the hard work, expertise and passion of our faculty, staff, students and alumni, our Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program continues to grow in national recognition and is now ranked #26, up from #50 just a few years ago!” said Christina Davis, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies. She continued, “This achievement is a testament to our collective efforts in seeing health from every angle, delivering excellent education and preparing future PAs to make a real difference.”
Doctor of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
The entry-level Doctor of Audiology (AuD) program also moved up in rankings, from sixth to fifth place. The program is housed within SHRS’ Department of Communication Science and Disorders, along with the fifth-ranked Speech-Language Pathology (MA/MS) program. Professor and Department Chair Catherine Palmer stated, “This reality is created and supported by everyone in our department! It is rewarding to see their hard work acknowledged in these ratings and wonderful for our alumni to know that their program continues to produce the very best speech-language pathologists and audiologists.”
These recent results mark decades of SHRS’ Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology programs ranking among the top ten in the nation. No programs are ranked higher in the state of Pennsylvania.
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Department of Occupational Therapy Chair and Associate Professor Juleen Rodakowski expressed that “each and every person in the Occupational Therapy Department contributes unique passions and strengths to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program, making it one of the very best in the state and in the nation.”
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Pitt’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program is one of only three programs ranked among the top ten with a hybrid option. Department Chair James Irrgang said, “As one of the oldest physical therapy education programs in the country, we are encouraged to see our tradition of excellence recognized year after year.”
According to the U.S. News & World Report website, rankings “are based solely on ratings of each program’s quality by academics” and “each score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions.”
SHRS Interim Dean David C. Beck stated, “These rankings and SHRS’ many other successes, past and present, demonstrate our school’s commitment to excellence and our reputation as a leader in academics and research dedicated to advancing the health, well-being and independence of others. We appreciate everyone’s contributions across all our programs, labs and other areas as we pursue our collective mission.”
