2027 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Ohio

[Occupational Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/occupational-therapy-therapist/) 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 10 schools to find the best return on investment for occupational therapy/therapist students.
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2027 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Ohio
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in occupational therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools
Our analysis ranked Shawnee State University the best value for a degree in occupational therapy/therapist in Ohio. Set in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,448, with out-of-state students paying around $16,032. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,233 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Shawnee State University earn a median of $64,138 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cleveland State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $26,336. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $66,152. Set against $26,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Toledo one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $24,875. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $55,685. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in occupational therapy/therapist will find it at Ohio State University Main Campus, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $70,332 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Muskingum University earned it the #5 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Concord. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,701. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,932 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Muskingum University earn a median of $39,918 early in their careers. Set against $26,932 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Walsh University came in at #6 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,030. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $28,064 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Walsh University generally make around $69,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Kettering College landed the #7 spot for occupational therapy/therapist value this year. Kettering College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kettering. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,320. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $32,543 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Kettering College earn a median of $68,489 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,543 median debt. Kettering College admits about 76% of applicants.
Wilmington College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Located in the town of Wilmington, Wilmington College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,082 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,802 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Wilmington College earn a median of $39,762 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The University Of Findlay landed the #10 spot for occupational therapy/therapist value this year. The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Findlay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,164. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $25,759. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of The University Of Findlay earn a median of $76,841 early in their careers. Set against $25,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Findlay admits about 83% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 10 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.