by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 213 U.S. colleges awarded 3,204 degrees and certificates in Occupational Therapist Assistant. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 97% of graduates. College Factual ranks 137 schools in its 2027 Best Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing, rising to $35,634 after four years.
Studying Occupational Therapist Assistant involves the study of Occupational Therapist Assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Occupational Therapists, To Direct Patient Participation In Skill-Enhancing, Learning, And Motivational Tasks; Correct Or Diminish Pathologies; And To Provide Direct Health Education And Promotion Services. Includes Instruction In Human Life Span Development, Occupational Therapy Principles And Practice Skills, Treatment Planning And Implementation, Record-Keeping And Documentation, Patient Education And Intervention, Activity And Program Direction, And Assistive Services Management.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, occupational therapist assistant is a widely-pursued major, with 3,204 degrees awarded annually. 213 colleges award occupational therapist assistant degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 133.
By level, the 3,204 awards include 37 certificates, 3,092 associate degrees, 73 bachelor’s degrees and 2 master’s degrees.
Women earned 89% of occupational therapist assistant degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,861 of 3,204). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,824) and Hispanic or Latino (649), and international students earned 9.
College Factual ranks 137 schools in its 2027 Best Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools ranking, including 134 for associate degrees and 3 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks occupational therapist assistant schools within 43 states. In all, 213 colleges offer occupational therapist assistant programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common occupational therapist assistant credential is the associate degree: 3,092 of the 3,204 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to occupational therapist assistant call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Education and Training, English Language and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
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How long an occupational therapist assistant degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 37 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3,092 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 73 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2 |
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to occupational therapist assistant, at 31.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 31.6% |
| Master’s degree | 24.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Occupational Therapist Assistant, with an average median salary of $38,044; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Physical Medicine Teacher, Pathology Teacher, Physical Therapy Professor and Public Health Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to occupational therapist assistant, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 572,604 | 5.6% |
Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing their program, $35,634 after four years and $32,689 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,519 |
| 4 years | $35,634 |
| 5 years | $32,689 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to occupational therapist assistant, with a median salary of $46,663.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $29,426 |
Occupational Therapist Assistant has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 81,111 degrees a year; the largest are Medical/Clinical Assistant (55,276), Pharmacy Technician/Assistant (8,060) and Physical Therapy Assistant (5,489). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 55,276 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 8,060 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 5,489 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,386 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 4,277 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,676 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 663 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | 497 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 304 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 258 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
