by our College Data Analytics TeamOccupational Therapy was the 83rd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 9,958 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 7.4% increase in occupational therapy degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 9,219.
This year's Best Occupational Therapy Schools ranking compares 185 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of occupational therapy programs later in this article.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is a required skill for occupational therapy majors. Talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most occupational therapy degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional occupational therapy certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of occupational therapy degrees. You can get anything from a in occupational therapy/therapist to the highest occupational therapy degree, a . The time it takes to complete a occupational therapy degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to occupational therapy, with approximately 53.1% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to occupational therapy tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 53.3% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 20.5% |
| Doctoral Degree | 9.1% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 5.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.5% |
Most workers in occupational therapy have at least a master's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in occupational therapy/therapist have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the occupational therapy career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your occupational therapy degree? Occupational Therapy careers are expected to grow 25.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to occupational therapy/therapist.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
| Occupational Therapists | 161,400 | 23.8% |
As you might expect, salaries for occupational therapy graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for occupational therapy/therapist graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers occupational therapy grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Occupational Therapists | $85,350 |
With over 360 different occupational therapy degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased occupational therapy school rankings to help you with this.
One of 15 majors within the Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions area of study, Occupational Therapy has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy/Therapist | 13,655 |
| Rehabilitation Science | 1,161 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling | 1,046 |
| Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy | 870 |
| Art Therapy | 858 |
Image Credit: By Barbara E. Carver under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
