Institutional Need.

There are several indicators that this program will be in demand at Coastal Carolina University. The program will create a natural pathway for students in Biology, Exercise Science, Public Health, and Health Sciences as well as students minoring in the Pre-Health Professions. Enrollment in these majors totals more than 1,000 students, or approximately 10% of CCU’s total enrollment. Additionally, Institutional Research, Assessment and Analysis research completed a needs assessment in the spring of 2024, surveying students in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Exercise Science, Health Communication, Health Sciences, Nursing, Psychology, Public Health, Sociology, and a random section of students in other majors. The survey yielded 239 responses. Overall, 91.2% of respondents indicated they were “highly likely” (73.6%, n=176) or “likely” (17.6%, n=42) to consider applying for a doctorate of physical therapy program if one was available at CCU. 93% of the respondents enrolled in majors of interest in the College of Health and Human Performance (Exercise Science, Health Sciences, Public Health) indicated they would likely consider applying for a DPT program if available. The qualitative responses reinforced the quantitative results relative to the level of interest. Many of the respondents indicated that they would like to stay at CCU to pursue physical therapy instead of having to transfer to other schools.

Local and Regional Need.

Local and regional need aligns with the national data and trends. In Horry County, the healthcare industry is the third largest employer with 14,952 jobs. It ranks only behind the industries of accommodation/food services and retail trade. Population growth in Horry County also supports the increasing need for a DPT program. Census data show the population of Horry County in 2021 was 365,579, up 35.3% from the 270,295 who lived here in 2010. For comparison, the US population grew 7.3% and South Carolina's population grew 12% during that period. Horry County is now the fourth most-populated county in South Carolina. Recently, the city of Myrtle Beach was deemed the most popular city in the nation for people to move to, supported by data showing the city had the most move-ins in 2024, to date. Age demographics in Horry County also indicate a growing need for PTs. Aging baby boomers are relocating to the Grand Strand region. The 65 and older group was the fastest-growing age demographic, with its population growing 104.8% between 2010 and 2021. The second highest growth rate was the 50-64 age demographic. The increasing number of physical therapy clinics and services in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee regions are indicative of the growth within physical therapy. Job opportunities are expected to be excellent for licensed PTs in all settings. Job prospects should be particularly good in acute-care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. South Carolina and our region will need additional PTs in the years ahead. A recent search for open Physical Therapist jobs in April 2024 yielded over 300 open positions in a variety of settings.

State and National Need.

There is a workforce demand for licensed physical therapists across the state and in the nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2023 to 2033, which far exceeds the average growth rate for all occupations (5 percent). The American Physical Therapy Association projects a shortage of PTs despite the growing number of graduates from PT programs. Nationally, there is an expected 36,800 new jobs for PTs by 2033. South Carolina is expected to add 760 physical therapist jobs by 2030. Demand for physical therapy will arise from the aging baby boomers, who are not only staying active later in life but are more susceptible to age-related health conditions, such as strokes, that may require physical therapy. In addition, PTs will be needed to treat people with mobility issues stemming from chronic conditions, such as diabetes or obesity.

The program will require resources such as faculty, space, and specialized equipment in order to get started. The program will need to utilize some shared space, crossing over with Kinesiology, Nursing and Health Science and possibly biology (anatomy and physiology). The program will add to graduate studies and be the first professional doctorate program at CCU.

Program cost-effectiveness and return on investment are evaluated institutionally using an induced revenue/expense model. As shown in the Financial Support table, tuition revenues are based on a 14-credit course load for each student projected to enroll in the program. These revenues represent course revenues derived from all courses taken by the student, including both departmental-fielded courses and cross-department electives. The expenses shown in the Financial Support table represent only direct expenses necessary for delivering program courses and administration. The beginning program administration and faculty/staff salaries total are determined by using average faculty and administration salaries of faculty and staff supporting the program based on FTEs for the program. The expenses for new faculty or administration salaries are determined by using a proportion of the CUPA salary averages based on FTE for new positions in the year being hired. The university uses a 50% gross academic margin assessment to ensure that new graduate and certificate programs will provide sufficient revenues to support their expense impact on institutional operations.

To derive gross academic margin, total induced revenue ($26,338,584 for the period) is calculated minus total direct expenses ($2,443,568 for the period) divided by total induced revenue ($23,895,016 for the period). [(Revenue-Expenses)/Revenue]

For a program to be considered cost-effective, the University looks for undergraduate and certificate programs to produce a gross academic margin of 50% or better. This program’s gross academic margin is 90.72% for the period, which indicates that this program has a high likelihood of producing sustainable revenues.

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