2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the occupational therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools
California State University Dominguez Hills tops our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $74,937. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Nevada Las Vegas earned it the #2 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $21,181. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $83,708. Set against $21,181 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Students looking for strong value in occupational therapy/therapist will find it at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,780. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Eastern Washington University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Cheney, Eastern Washington University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,586, with out-of-state students paying around $26,583. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,326 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Eastern Washington University earn a median of $65,040 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,326 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
San Jose State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,728, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $51,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
University Of The Pacific placed #7 among the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. Students from in state pay about $57,080 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $23,514. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of The Pacific generally make around $88,755. That is a strong return on a $23,514 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Stanbridge College earned the #8 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Stanbridge College is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $26,732. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Stanbridge College generally make around $79,749. That is a strong return on a $26,732 median debt. Stanbridge College admits about 10% of applicants.
George Fox University landed the #9 spot for occupational therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,320. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $25,324. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $52,898. That is a strong return on a $25,324 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern California came in at #10 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $15,625. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $77,049. Set against $15,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Pacific University earned the #11 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Forest Grove. In-state tuition and fees average $56,374. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,170 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Pacific University earn a median of $73,463 early in their careers. Set against $26,170 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Puget Sound earned the #12 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,898 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $25,287. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $75,842. Set against $25,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Puget Sound admits about 72% of applicants.
Dominican University Of California came in at #13 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Dominican University Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Rafael. Students from in state pay about $52,161 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $27,000. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Dominican University Of California earn a median of $71,230 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
[Occupational Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/occupational-therapy-therapist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
