by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 17 U.S. colleges awarded 302 degrees and certificates in Orthotist/Prosthetist. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 76% of graduates. College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Orthotist/Prosthetist Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing, rising to $75,072 after four years.
Studying Orthotist/Prosthetist involves the study of Orthotist/prosthetist. A Program That Prepares Individuals, In Consultation With Physicians And Other Therapists, To Design And Fit Orthoses For Patients With Disabling Conditions Of The Limbs And/or Spine, And Prostheses For Patients Who Have Partial Or Total Absence Of A Limb Or Significant Superficial Deformity. Includes Instruction In Biomechanics, Gait Analysis, Pathomechanics, Kinesiology, Pathology, Neuroanatomy, Materials Science, Diagnostic Imaging, Patient Analysis And Measurement, Impression Taking, Model Rectification, Assistive/restorative Technology And Engineering Applications, Product Finishing, Diagnostic And Definitive Fitting And Alignment, Power Devices, Postoperative Management, And Patient Counseling And Follow-Up.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, orthotist/prosthetist draws strong interest, with 302 degrees awarded annually. 17 colleges award orthotist/prosthetist degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 46.
By level, the 302 awards include 39 certificates, 22 associate degrees, 12 bachelor’s degrees and 229 master’s degrees.
Women earned 71% of orthotist/prosthetist degrees and certificates in the latest year (214 of 302). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (186) and Hispanic or Latino (29), and international students earned 11.
College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Orthotist/Prosthetist Schools ranking, including 9 for master’s degrees. It also ranks orthotist/prosthetist schools within 8 states. In all, 17 colleges offer orthotist/prosthetist programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Orthotist/Prosthetist Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common orthotist/prosthetist credential is the master’s degree: 229 of the 302 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to orthotist/prosthetist call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an orthotist/prosthetist degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 39 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 22 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 12 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 229 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to orthotist/prosthetist, at 69.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 69.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Orthotist/Prosthetist, with an average median salary of $54,450; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Orthotic Fitter, Prosthetics Assistant, Orthotic and Prosthetic Technician (Orthotic and Prosthetic Tech) and Prosthetic Clinician.
The occupation related to orthotist/prosthetist with the most projected jobs is Orthotists and Prosthetists, at 3,021,997.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Orthotists and Prosthetists | 3,021,997 | 2.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | 384,787 | 8.4% |
Orthotist/Prosthetist graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing their program, $75,072 after four years and $74,465 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $66,380 |
| 4 years | $75,072 |
| 5 years | $74,465 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to orthotist/prosthetist, with a median salary of $86,860.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Orthotists and Prosthetists | $86,860 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Medical Appliance Technicians | $29,828 |
Orthotist/Prosthetist has 15 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 28,604 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Therapy/Therapist (13,798), Occupational Therapy/Therapist (9,835) and Rehabilitation Science (1,028). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy/Therapist | 13,798 |
| Occupational Therapy/Therapist | 9,835 |
| Rehabilitation Science | 1,028 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor | 939 |
| Art Therapy/Therapist | 686 |
| Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy | 640 |
| Music Therapy/Therapist | 639 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other | 582 |
| Animal-Assisted Therapy | 115 |
| Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist | 96 |
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