Why This Matters
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THE MAJORITY OF JOBS IN THIS FIELD REQUIRE GRADUATE SCHOOL
86% of occupational therapy jobs require applicants to have a graduate degree.
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THE U.S. NEEDS 16,100 MORE OF YOU BY 2032
The number of occupational therapy jobs is expected to grow 12% over the next decade.
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POTENTIAL TO EARN OVER $120,000
The average salary for occupational therapists is $93,180, and the top 10% of workers in this field make more than $123,870.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online doctorate in occupational therapy degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary education. Many of the programs on our list have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), which assesses the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of occupational therapy programs.
We evaluated each school’s program on admission, retention, and graduation rates as well as tuition costs, faculty, reputation, and the resources provided for online students. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Next, we compared this comprehensive list of online doctorate in occupational therapy degree programs to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like U.S. News & World Report, among others, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
Why Trust Us
The Intelligent.com Higher Education Team is dedicated to providing students with independent, equitable school and program rankings and well-researched resources. Our expert-driven articles cover topics related to online colleges and programs, paying for school, and career outlooks. We use data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard, the National Center for Education Statistics, and other reputable educational and professional organizations. Our academic advisory team reviews content and verifies accuracy throughout the year for the most current information. Partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial decisions.
- Analyzed over 2,000 national, accredited, and nonprofit colleges and universities
- 800+ rankings pages are reviewed and updated yearly
- Content is informed by reputable sources, surveys, and interviews with academic advisors and other experts
- Over 100 data points are reviewed for accuracy and quality throughout the year, including sources
How we rank schools
Our list features the best online Occupational Therapy degree programs at top colleges nationwide. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions.
We evaluated each school’s program on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, reputation, and the student resources provided for online students. We collected data from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics, individual school and program websites, school admissions counselors, and other data sources. Then, we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the following criterion:
Academic Quality:
- Admission rate versus enrollment rate
- Retention rate of students who return after year one
- Accreditation status (regional and programmatic)
- Nonprofit status, both private and public institutions
Graduation Rate
- Overall graduation rate
- Total number of currently enrolled students, including diversity metrics
- Student-to-faculty ratio
Cost and ROI
- In-state and out-of-state per-credit tuition rates and fees
- Required credits to graduate
- Earning potential after graduation
- Availability of federal student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid options
Student Resources
- Available student services for online-only and hybrid programs
- On-campus amenities like tutoring centers and the number of libraries
Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 79 hours to write this article
- 140 universities and colleges we assessed
- 240 education programs we compared
Best 32 Online Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Programs
FiltersInstitution Type
Status
- Intelligent Score
- Alphabetically By University Name
- Acceptance Rate
- Enrollment
- In-state Graduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Graduate Tuition
- In-state Undergraduate Tuition
- Out-of-state Undergraduate Tuition
Boston University
Intelligent Score: 99.6In-state: $56,854
Out-of-state: $56,854
In-state: $56,854
Out-of-state: $56,854
SAT: 1310-1500
ACT: 30-34
$1,994
Online, On-Campus
New England Commission of Higher Education
33-37
Temple University
Intelligent Score: 98.18In-state: $16,080
Out-of-state: $28,992
In-state: $16,956
Out-of-state: $16,956
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
In-State: $1,060
Out-of-State: $1,453
Online, On-Campus
Council on Education for Public Health
116
Quinnipiac University
Intelligent Score: 97.01In-state: $48,200
Out-of-state: $48,200
In-state: $19,350
Out-of-state: $19,350
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$1,025
Online
New England Commission of Higher Education
32
St. Catherine University
Intelligent Score: 96.62In-state: $33,826
Out-of-state: $33,826
In-state: $16,740
Out-of-state: $16,740
SAT: 1080-1240
ACT: 19-25
$759
Online
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
35
University of Kansas Medical Center
Intelligent Score: 95.99In-state: $10,092
Out-of-state: $26,960
In-state: $9,989
Out-of-state: $9,989
SAT: 1070-1320
ACT: 22-29
$421
Online
Higher Learning Center
112
University of Utah
Intelligent Score: 94.83In-state: $7,412
Out-of-state: $26,017
In-state: $6,666
Out-of-state: $6,666
SAT: 1130-1350
ACT: 22-29
$971
Online
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
36
Indiana University
Intelligent Score: 94.74In-state: $9,815
Out-of-state: $36,194
In-state: $9,786
Out-of-state: $9,786
SAT: 1120-1350
ACT: 24-31
In-State: $568
Out-of-State: $995
Online
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
106
Towson University
Intelligent Score: 94.43In-state: $6,962
Out-of-state: $21,098
In-state: $7,902
Out-of-state: $7,902
SAT: 1040-1200
ACT: 20-25
In-State: $669
Out-of-State: $1,210
Online
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
33
Thomas Jefferson University
Intelligent Score: 94.17In-state: $40,680
Out-of-state: $40,680
In-state: $21,420
Out-of-state: $21,420
SAT: 1090-1270
ACT: 20-27
$1,015
Online
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
33-44
George Washington University
Intelligent Score: 93.38In-state: $55,961
Out-of-state: $55,961
In-state: $31,770
Out-of-state: $31,770
SAT: 1270-1450
ACT: 30-33
$1,145
Online
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
107
Gannon University
Intelligent Score: 93.11In-state: $34,575
Out-of-state: $34,575
In-state: $19,980
Out-of-state: $19,980
SAT: 990-1210
ACT: 20-26
$770
Online
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
34
Barry University
Intelligent Score: 92.44In-state: $30,600
Out-of-state: $30,600
In-state: $17,820
Out-of-state: $17,820
SAT: N/A
ACT: N/A
$666
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
36
Nova Southeastern University
Intelligent Score: 91.18In-state: $32,370
Out-of-state: $32,370
In-state: $20,618
Out-of-state: $20,618
SAT: 1030-1240
ACT: 20-27
$708
Online
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
34
Mary Baldwin University
Intelligent Score: 90.4In-state: $30,690
Out-of-state: $30,690
In-state: $13,000
Out-of-state: $13,000
SAT: 940-1120
ACT: 18-24
$1,400
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
30
University of Wisconsin
Intelligent Score: 90.13In-state: $9,273
Out-of-state: $37,161
In-state: $10,728
Out-of-state: $10,728
SAT: 1260-1460
ACT: 27-32
$1,000
Online
Higher Learning Center
34
Texas Woman’s University
Intelligent Score: 87.8In-state: $94
Out-of-state: $77
In-state: $48
Out-of-state: $48
SAT: Considered (not required)
ACT: Required
In-State: $453
Out-of-State: $856
Online
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
90
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Intelligent Score: 87.67In-state: $34,627
Out-of-state: $51,815
In-state: $16,793
Out-of-state: $16,793
SAT: NA
ACT: NA
In-State: $597
Out-of-State: $1,418
Online, On-Campus
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
40
Bay Path University
Intelligent Score: 85.87In-state: $35,781
Out-of-state: $35,781
In-state: $19,235
Out-of-state: $19,235
SAT: 940-1170
ACT: 23-31
$875 - $1,060
Online
New England Commission of Higher Education
36-54
What You Should Know About This Degree
Occupational therapy is often lumped together with physical therapy and speech therapy. Although all three professions support human function, they employ different methods to do so. Occupational therapists assist with daily living functions, physical therapists focus on the movement of the human body, and speech therapists help with communication and swallowing disorders.
Only apply to schools approved by a DOE-recognized accrediting organization, such as the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) or Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). If your school isn’t accredited, you may be unable to access financial aid or transfer credits to another institution if needed.
All states require occupational therapists to be licensed — at a minimum, this means you will need to pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. Some states have additional requirements as well.
What’s Next?
Here are some questions to ask when researching online doctorate in occupational therapy programs:
- What tests are required for this online degree? To become a licensed occupational therapist, you will need to take the NBCOT exam. After passing the exam, students earn the title of Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR).
- Am I eligible for this program? To be accepted into a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DOT) program, you must have a bachelor’s degree, ideally in a related subject such as biology or kinesiology. However, many competitive candidates have master’s degrees or professional experience. Always check a program’s admissions requirements before applying.
- What financial aid opportunities are available? With the help of grants, fellowships, and other resources, you may even be able to earn your doctorate for free.
As you research programs, you should keep track of any important deadlines or application requirements. This information is generally available online, but you can also find it by contacting a school’s admissions department. If you are pursuing financial aid, be sure to submit your applications on time and research funding opportunities such as scholarships and assistantships.