by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 250 U.S. colleges awarded 9,835 degrees and certificates in Occupational Therapy. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 51% of graduates. College Factual ranks 232 schools in its 2027 Best Occupational Therapy Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing, rising to $75,072 after four years.
A major in Occupational Therapy covers Occupational Therapy/therapist. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Assist Patients Limited By Physical, Cognitive, Psychosocial, Mental, Developmental, And Learning Disabilities, As Well As Adverse Environmental Conditions, To Maximize Their Independence And Maintain Optimum Health Through A Planned Mix Of Acquired Skills, Performance Motivation, Environmental Adaptations, Assistive Technologies, And Physical Agents. Includes Instruction In The Basic Medical Sciences, Psychology, Sociology, Patient Assessment And Evaluation, Standardized And Non-Standardized Tests And Measurements, Assistive And Rehabilitative Technologies, Ergonomics, Environmental Health, Special Education, Vocational Counseling, Health Education And Promotion, And Professional Standards And Ethics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., occupational therapy is a popular field of study, with 9,835 degrees awarded annually. 250 colleges award occupational therapy degrees, an average of 39 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 612.
By level, the 9,835 awards include 27 associate degrees, 480 bachelor’s degrees, 5,041 master’s degrees and 4,287 doctorates.
Women earned 91% of occupational therapy degrees and certificates in the latest year (8,957 of 9,835). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (6,445) and Hispanic or Latino (1,078), and international students earned 130.
College Factual ranks 232 schools in its 2027 Best Occupational Therapy Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 44 for bachelor’s degrees, 148 for master’s degrees and 169 for doctorates. It also ranks occupational therapy schools within 47 states. In all, 250 colleges offer occupational therapy programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Occupational Therapy Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common occupational therapy credential is the master’s degree: 5,041 of the 9,835 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to occupational therapy call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an occupational therapy degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 27 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 480 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,041 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4,287 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to occupational therapy, at 63.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 63.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 10.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 3.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 2.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Occupational Therapy, with an average median salary of $84,668; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Blind Orientation and Mobility Therapist (Blind O and M Therapist), Low Vision Therapist, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT) and Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT).
The occupation related to occupational therapy with the most projected jobs is Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, at 3,154,112.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | 3,154,112 | -1.5% |
| Occupational Therapists | 2,344,296 | -4.2% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Occupational Therapy graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing their program, $75,072 after four years and $74,465 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $66,380 |
| 4 years | $75,072 |
| 5 years | $74,465 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to occupational therapy, with a median salary of $124,839.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | $124,839 |
| Occupational Therapists | $82,501 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Occupational Therapy has 15 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 19,071 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Therapy/Therapist (13,798), Rehabilitation Science (1,028) and Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor (939). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy/Therapist | 13,798 |
| Rehabilitation Science | 1,028 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor | 939 |
| Art Therapy/Therapist | 686 |
| Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy | 640 |
| Music Therapy/Therapist | 639 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other | 582 |
| Orthotist/Prosthetist | 302 |
| Animal-Assisted Therapy | 115 |
| Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist | 96 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
