2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Missouri
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong occupational therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for occupational therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Missouri
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
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #1 spot for value among occupational therapy/therapist schools in Missouri. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $24,408. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $69,907 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $69,385 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Rockhurst University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Rockhurst University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,966. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $24,111. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Rockhurst University generally make around $71,272. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Maryville University Of Saint Louis one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,166. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,499 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $68,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Louis University Main Campus one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,760. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,687 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $67,636. That is a strong return on a $26,687 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
More Occupational Therapy/Therapist Rankings
View All Occupational Therapy/Therapist Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
