I wanted to reply and give you my perspective. I am a second year PT student at CSUN right now and I know there is a common misconception that a DPT is different than an MPT. I received my undergraduate (double major) from CSUN and decided to continue at CSUN for PT because the school gives you an amazing education! Everyone, no matter from what school they received their degree, receive the SAME educational curriculum, and all sit for the SAME national board licensure exam. Salaries for a DPT and MPT are the exact SAME as well, despite DPT schools trying to convince you otherwise. The degree is not what allows you to practice or pays you, it is the license. I agree USC does have a good name attached to it, my sister went there for undergrad, but that alone is not what is going to make you successful. The CSUN community has a strong network as well and to be honest, the PT community is pretty small anyway so everyone really knows everyone. CSUN doesn't get the credit it deserves. I am confident in saying that every graduate from this school, whether undergrad or graduate level, would say without a doubt that they received an amazing education and the professors that they had were top notch. Professors teaching at CSUN also teach at UCLA, USC, MSMC, and many others. I receive the same education as students from these other schools for the fraction of the price. The money component of attending CSUN is also an amazing factor. Because a PT whether with a doctorate or master will be receiving the same salary, it doesn't make sense to have 5x the debt when you're done with school! One last note about DPT. There are continuing courses that you can take (about 1 year of online classes I believe, possibly less) to get your doctorate if you do get a master in PT first. Otherwise you can wait until the national standard for PT is at the doctorate level and you will be grandfathered in and will receive an honorary doctorate! Sounds good to me! I want to say the year 2020 but I could be wrong on that.
The professors in the PT department are amazing and strive to teach their students the newest information available. I would without a doubt recommend the PT program at CSUN. It will develop you into the best physical therapist you allow it to and will prepare you excellently for the board exam. CSUN prides itself on its students' 100% pass rate for the board exam. I feel very prepared so far!
If you have any questions or are trying to decide if CSUN is the right school for you, please don't hesitate to ask me any questions. Obviously I come into the situation with my own biases, and I have never been a student at any other PT program so can only give an incomplete point of view. There may be other factors that sway you toward other schools. Any school you chose will be the right school for you and you will become a great physical therapist regardless. National and state education standards for PT school curriculum dictate the level of education required, it is what each school offers above and beyond which distinguishes each from the next.
Good luck!