2026 Best Value Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in Texas
[Occupational Therapist Assistant](/majors/health-care-professions/allied-health-medical-assisting-services/occupational-therapist-assistant/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 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 Texas
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
For return on investment in occupational therapist assistant, no school beat South Texas College this year. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $10,378 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $32,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,000 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $42,057. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes El Centro College one of the best values for occupational therapist assistant. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $14,557 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $27,898. 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 St Philips College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $46,461. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt.
Laredo Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,748. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $41,354. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College came in at #6 for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Students borrow a median of $15,500 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. Set against $15,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mclennan Community College landed the #7 spot for occupational therapist assistant value this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $11,500. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $40,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,500 median debt.
Austin Community College District placed #8 among the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,457 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $49,448. Set against $18,457 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College came in at #9 for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $20,299. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $38,964 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $14,938. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $40,933. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Panola College placed #11 among the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Panola College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Carthage. In-state tuition and fees average $2,352, compared with $5,232 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,072.
Weatherford College landed the #12 spot for occupational therapist assistant value this year. Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Weatherford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,250, while out-of-state students pay about $10,860. Students borrow a median of $20,750 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $51,083. That is a strong return on a $20,750 median debt.
Lone Star College System came in at #13 for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. In-state tuition and fees average $2,664, compared with $7,512 for out-of-state students. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates carry a median of $11,553 in student loans. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Lone Star College System earn a median of $35,884 early in their careers. Set against $11,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tyler Junior College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. Students from in state pay about $2,424 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,536. Students borrow a median of $14,500 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $46,586. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Navarro College earned the #15 position for value in occupational therapist assistant this year. Set in the town of Corsicana, Navarro College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,008, compared with $6,578 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,448 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Navarro College generally make around $51,543. Set against $24,448 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Medical Institute Houston ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Pima Medical Institute Houston is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $18,375. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $38,045. Set against $18,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Medical Institute El Paso ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapist assistant schools. Set in the city of El Paso, Pima Medical Institute El Paso is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for occupational therapist assistant graduates is $18,375. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Pima Medical Institute El Paso generally make around $38,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Parker University placed #18 among the best values for occupational therapist assistant. Located in the city of Dallas, Parker University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $26,904. Students borrow a median of $30,500 to complete the occupational therapist assistant program here. Early-career occupational therapist assistant graduates make about $38,994. That is a strong return on a $30,500 median debt.
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
