2026 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in California
[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.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools.
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2026 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in occupational therapist assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools
Santa Ana College earned the #1 spot for value among occupational therapist assistant schools in California. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $12,368. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $28,444. Set against $12,368 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sacramento City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapist assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, Sacramento City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $15,008. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Sacramento City College generally make around $48,969. That is a strong return on a $15,008 median debt.
Monterey Peninsula College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapist assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Monterey Peninsula College is a large public school located in the suburb of Monterey. In-state tuition and fees average $1,188, while out-of-state students pay about $10,532. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,176.
A rank of #4 makes Cbd College one of the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Cbd College is a small private not-for-profit university. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $13,800. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Cbd College earn a median of $41,319 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stanbridge College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Stanbridge College is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. Students borrow a median of $30,764 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $50,198. That is a strong return on a $30,764 median debt. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Platt College Anaheim came in at #6 for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Platt College Anaheim is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Anaheim. Students from in state pay about $14,847 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $7,229. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $26,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Career College Anaheim came in at #7 for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Located in the city of Anaheim, American Career College Anaheim is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $38,881. Set against $18,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Medical Institute San Marcos came in at #8 for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Pima Medical Institute San Marcos is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $18,375. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institute San Marcos earn a median of $38,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Occupational Therapist Assistant Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
