2026 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in New York
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong occupational therapist assistant education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for occupational therapist assistant students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in occupational therapist assistant, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools
Suffolk County Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools in New York. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $20,406. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. That is a strong return on a $20,406 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Cuny Laguardia Community College one of the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Located in the city of Long Island City, Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,218 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Students borrow a median of $19,125 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $40,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Erie Community College earned it the #3 place for occupational therapist assistant. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $12,580 in student loans. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $32,890 early in their careers. Set against $12,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Orange County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapist assistant, landing the #4 spot this year. Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Middletown. In-state tuition and fees average $6,526, while out-of-state students pay about $12,334. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $12,728 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $51,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jamestown Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Set in the town of Jamestown, Jamestown Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,840. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Jamestown Community College generally make around $28,624. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Bryant And Stratton College Syracuse North ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Bryant And Stratton College Syracuse North is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Liverpool. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,926. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $24,200. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Bryant And Stratton College Syracuse North generally make around $32,115. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Villa Maria College earned the #7 position for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Villa Maria College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Buffalo. In-state tuition and fees average $28,670. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $15,395. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Villa Maria College earn a median of $31,909 early in their careers. Set against $15,395 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Bryant And Stratton College Greece ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Bryant And Stratton College Greece is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,538 in tuition and fees. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $24,200 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $32,115. Set against $24,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mercy College placed #9 among the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Mercy College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. Students from in state pay about $22,880 in tuition and fees. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $31,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Mercy College generally make around $39,267. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mercy College admits about 86% of applicants.
Maria College Of Albany ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Located in the city of Albany, Maria College Of Albany is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,740. Students borrow a median of $26,812 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $36,742. That is a strong return on a $26,812 median debt. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
More Occupational Therapist Assistant Rankings
View All Occupational Therapist Assistant Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
