2027 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in the Southeast Region
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 55 schools to find the best return on investment for occupational therapist assistant students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in the Southeast 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
Central Piedmont Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools in the Southeast Region. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $17,512. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $35,967 early in their careers. Set against $17,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Technical College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Located in the suburb of Marietta, Chattahoochee Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, while out-of-state students pay about $6,108. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $9,616 in student loans. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Chattahoochee Technical College earn a median of $40,458 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Florida State College At Jacksonville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapist assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Students borrow a median of $16,172 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $37,407. That is a strong return on a $16,172 median debt.
Roane State Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Set in the town of Harriman, Roane State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,998, compared with $18,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,500 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $30,882. That is a strong return on a $12,500 median debt.
Trident Technical College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Trident Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,546, with out-of-state students paying around $8,620. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $18,116. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Trident Technical College earn a median of $50,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,116 median debt.
Horry Georgetown Technical College earned the #6 position for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Set in the city of Conway, Horry Georgetown Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,518, with out-of-state students paying around $10,978. Students borrow a median of $19,172 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Horry Georgetown Technical College generally make around $43,389. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Itawamba Community College came in at #7 for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fulton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,420, with out-of-state students paying around $5,820. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $17,755. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $45,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Durham Technical Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Durham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,240, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $20,408. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $46,293. That is a strong return on a $20,408 median debt.
Virginia Western Community College placed #9 among the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $13,715. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $36,245 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas landed the #10 spot for occupational therapist assistant value this year. Cossatot Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a small public school located in the town of De Queen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, while out-of-state students pay about $5,190. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $7,018. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $31,512. That is a strong return on a $7,018 median debt.
Southwestern Community College Sylva earned the #11 position for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Set in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,112, compared with $13,184 for out-of-state students. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $18,702 in student loans. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Southwestern Community College Sylva earn a median of $42,374 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,702 median debt.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $4,992 in student loans. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Georgia Northwestern Technical College earn a median of $41,229 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Holmes Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Located in the rural area of Goodman, Holmes Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,710 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,610. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $19,707. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Holmes Community College earn a median of $42,578 early in their careers. Set against $19,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Madisonville Community College earned the #14 position for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Located in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $12,023. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $30,386. That is a strong return on a $12,023 median debt.
Walters State Community College landed the #15 spot for occupational therapist assistant value this year. Walters State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Morristown. In-state tuition and fees average $4,752, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $10,210. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Walters State Community College generally make around $35,173. That is a strong return on a $10,210 median debt.
Jackson State Community College landed the #16 spot for occupational therapist assistant value this year. Jackson State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jackson. In-state tuition and fees average $4,740, compared with $17,724 for out-of-state students. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $11,710 in student loans. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Jackson State Community College earn a median of $41,438 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pearl River Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Pearl River Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Poplarville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,700, while out-of-state students pay about $6,100. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $42,444. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt.
Southwest Virginia Community College landed the #18 spot for occupational therapist assistant value this year. Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cedar Bluff. Students from in state pay about $5,075 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,513. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Southwest Virginia Community College generally make around $32,327. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #19 spot for occupational therapist assistant value this year. Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Louisville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $38,477. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt.
Daytona State College placed #20 among the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $3,106, while out-of-state students pay about $11,994. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $16,140 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $28,339. That is a strong return on a $16,140 median debt.
Nashville State Community College landed the #21 spot for occupational therapist assistant value this year. Nashville State Community College is a large public school located in the city of Nashville. Students from in state pay about $4,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,714. Students borrow a median of $24,200 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Nashville State Community College earn a median of $40,411 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rowan Cabarrus Community College came in at #22 for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Rowan Cabarrus Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,064, compared with $6,672 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,867 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $37,465. Set against $10,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pitt Community College earned the #23 position for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Pitt Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Winterville. In-state tuition and fees average $3,871, with out-of-state students paying around $13,087. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $20,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Pitt Community College generally make around $34,294. Set against $20,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Perkinston. Students from in state pay about $4,250 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,850. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $11,653. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $34,214. That is a strong return on a $11,653 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #25 for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $14,413. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $40,126 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in occupational therapist assistant:
Narrow Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools by State
More Occupational Therapist Assistant Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 55 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 55 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.
