2026 Best Occupational Therapist Assistant Schools in the The Plains States Region
Occupational Therapist Assistant is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 31 schools to find the best for occupational therapist assistant students.
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Best Schools for Occupational Therapist Assistant in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall occupational therapist assistant education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Occupational Therapist Assistant
University Of Missouri Columbia tops our 2026 ranking of the best occupational therapist assistant schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 11 occupational therapist assistant students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Columbia in the most recent data year. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,818.
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Students looking for a strong occupational therapist assistant program will find one at Washburn University, which ranked #2. Washburn University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Topeka. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 occupational therapist assistant degrees were awarded at Washburn University in the most recent year. Graduates of the occupational therapist assistant program make about $45,386 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,566 to complete this degree.
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Anoka Technical College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapist assistant, landing the #3 spot this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the suburb of Anoka. Anoka Technical College awarded about 17 occupational therapist assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their occupational therapist assistant degree from Anoka Technical College earn around $40,000 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,541 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong occupational therapist assistant program will find one at Central Community College, which ranked #4. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island. About 13 occupational therapist assistant degrees were awarded at Central Community College in the most recent year. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Central Community College earn a median of $37,307 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,250.
See the full occupational therapist assistant program report for Central Community College
Students looking for a strong occupational therapist assistant program will find one at St Catherine University, which ranked #5. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Saint Paul. St Catherine University graduates 61% of students within six years. About 130 occupational therapist assistant degrees were awarded at St Catherine University in the most recent year. Graduates of the occupational therapist assistant program make about $40,149 in their early career. St Catherine University graduates carry a median of $30,500 in student loans.
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Ozarks Technical Community College placed #6 among the best occupational therapist assistant schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. Ozarks Technical Community College awarded about 12 occupational therapist assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of $38,770 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,747.
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North Dakota State College Of Science placed #7 among the best occupational therapist assistant schools. North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wahpeton. About 11 occupational therapist assistant degrees were awarded at North Dakota State College Of Science in the most recent year. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of North Dakota State College Of Science earn a median of $48,989 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,706.
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Crowder College earned the #8 position for occupational therapist assistant this year. Located in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a moderately-sized public university. About 18 occupational therapist assistant degrees were awarded at Crowder College in the most recent year. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Crowder College earn a median of $33,436 early in their careers. Crowder College graduates carry a median of $14,719 in student loans.
More information about a degree in occupational therapist assistant from Crowder College
State Fair Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best occupational therapist assistant schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Sedalia. There were roughly 10 occupational therapist assistant students who graduated with this degree at State Fair Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from State Fair Community College generally make around $39,168. Typical student debt for the program is $15,328.
More information about a degree in occupational therapist assistant from State Fair Community College
Hawkeye Community College came in at #10 for occupational therapist assistant this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Waterloo. There were roughly 11 occupational therapist assistant students who graduated with this degree at Hawkeye Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their occupational therapist assistant degree from Hawkeye Community College earn around $39,614 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,716.
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Kirkwood Community College came in at #11 for occupational therapist assistant this year. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. There were roughly 16 occupational therapist assistant students who graduated with this degree at Kirkwood Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the occupational therapist assistant program make about $33,912 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,616 to complete this degree.
See the full occupational therapist assistant program report for Kirkwood Community College
Saint Louis Community College placed #12 among the best occupational therapist assistant schools. Set in the suburb of Bridgeton, Saint Louis Community College is a very large public institution. Saint Louis Community College awarded about 12 occupational therapist assistant degrees in the most recent data year. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Saint Louis Community College earn a median of $32,094 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,424 to complete this degree.
Get the full occupational therapist assistant details for Saint Louis Community College
Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff landed the #13 spot for occupational therapist assistant this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the town of Poplar Bluff. About 16 occupational therapist assistant degrees were awarded at Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, occupational therapist assistant degree recipients from Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff generally make around $35,722. Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff graduates carry a median of $11,600 in student loans.
More information about a degree in occupational therapist assistant from Three Rivers Community College Poplar Bluff
St Charles Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best occupational therapist assistant schools. St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cottleville. About 17 occupational therapist assistant degrees were awarded at St Charles Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their occupational therapist assistant degree from St Charles Community College earn around $47,228 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,606.
Read more about the occupational therapist assistant program at St Charles Community College
Moberly Area Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best occupational therapist assistant schools. Located in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 16 occupational therapist assistant students who graduated with this degree at Moberly Area Community College in the most recent data year. Occupational Therapist Assistant graduates of Moberly Area Community College earn a median of $44,755 early in their careers. Moberly Area Community College graduates carry a median of $12,507 in student loans.
Read more about the occupational therapist assistant program at Moberly Area Community College
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 31 schools evaluated.
- 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.
