2026 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Occupational Therapist Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/occupational-therapist-assistant/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong occupational therapist assistant education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for occupational therapist assistant students.
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2026 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
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
Salt Lake Community College earned the #1 spot for value among occupational therapist assistant schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Located in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,426, compared with $14,244 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,136 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $34,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Western Idaho is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapist assistant, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Nampa, College Of Western Idaho is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,446, with out-of-state students paying around $7,454. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $13,446. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of College Of Western Idaho earn a median of $32,413 early in their careers.
Casper College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapist assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Casper, Casper College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,410, compared with $10,710 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,598 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $49,729. 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 Pueblo Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Pueblo, Pueblo Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,049, while out-of-state students pay about $17,649. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $17,335. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Pueblo Community College earn a median of $42,297 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Idaho State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapist assistant, landing the #5 spot this year. Idaho State University is a large public school located in the city of Pocatello. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $17,750. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $37,157. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt.
Pima Medical Institute Denver placed #6 among the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Located in the suburb of Denver, Pima Medical Institute Denver is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $18,375 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Pima Medical Institute Denver earn a median of $38,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ameritech College Draper placed #7 among the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Ameritech College Draper is a mid-sized private for-profit school located in the suburb of Draper. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,260. Students borrow a median of $13,062 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Ameritech College Draper generally make around $34,607. Set against $13,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.