2027 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Occupational Therapist Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/occupational-therapist-assistant/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for occupational therapist assistant students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the occupational therapist assistant degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools
Our analysis ranked Santa Ana College the best value for a degree in occupational therapist assistant in the United States. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $12,368 in student loans. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $28,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in occupational therapist assistant will find it at South College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Knoxville, South College is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,535. Students borrow a median of $18,982 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from South College generally make around $34,170. That is a strong return on a $18,982 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Other Occupational Therapist Assistant Degree Levels
Explore the best-value occupational therapist assistant schools at other degree levels:
View All Occupational Therapist Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.