by our College Data Analytics Team
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for occupational therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in occupational therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in occupational therapy/therapist, no school beat Briar Cliff University this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Briar Cliff University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,642. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $29,918 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $61,105. That is a strong return on a $29,918 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Ambrose University earned it the #2 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Saint Ambrose University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Davenport. Students from in state pay about $36,658 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $27,528. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $70,244. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in occupational therapy/therapist will find it at Drake University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,960. Students borrow a median of $22,273 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $68,869. Set against $22,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
The ranking above is published 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.