by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2025, College Factual analyzed 76 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Occupational Therapy Doctor's Degree Schools ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 3,503 doctor's degrees in occupational therapy to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of occupational therapy for getting your doctor's degree school matters. Important measures of a quality occupational therapy program can vary widely even among the top schools. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
A school that excels in educating for a particular major and degree level must be a great school overall as well. To take this into account we include a school's overall Best Colleges for a Doctor's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for occupational therapy students working on their doctor's degree.
When choosing the right school for you, it's important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we've created a number of major-specific rankings, including this Best Occupational Therapy Doctor's Degree Schools list to help you make the college decision.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a doctor's degree in occupational therapy. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
It's difficult to beat University of Southern California if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in occupational therapy. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from University of Southern California
Every student who is interested in a doctor's degree in occupational therapy has to take a look at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. TTUHSC is a small public university located in the large city of Lubbock.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Samuel Merritt University is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a doctor's degree in occupational therapy. Samuel Merritt University is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of Oakland.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from Samuel Merritt University
It is difficult to beat The University of Texas Medical Branch if you wish to pursue a doctor's degree in occupational therapy. Located in the city of Galveston, UTMB Galveston is a public university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from The University of Texas Medical Branch
Located in the large city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from Boston University
NYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of New York.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from New York University
Located in the city of Oklahoma City, UOHSC is a public university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from University of Oklahoma - Health Sciences Center
Located in the large suburb of Medford, Tufts is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from Tufts University
MGH Institute of Health Professions is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from MGH Institute of Health Professions
Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from Creighton University
Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Philadelphia.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from Thomas Jefferson University
UF is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from University of Florida
UW - Madison is a fairly large public university located in the city of Madison.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from University of Wisconsin - Madison
Located in the city of San Antonio, UT Health San Antonio is a public university with a small student population.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
MUSC is a small public university located in the medium-sized city of Charleston.More information about a doctorate in occupational therapy from Medical University of South Carolina
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Occupational Therapy Doctor's Degree Schools award.
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Shenandoah University | Winchester, VA |
| 17 | Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT |
| 18 | Duquesne University | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 19 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 20 | Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis | Indianapolis, IN |
| 21 | Ohio State University - Main Campus | Columbus, OH |
| 22 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN |
| 23 | Pacific University | Forest Grove, OR |
| 24 | Saint Joseph’s University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 25 | Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
View the Best Occupational Therapy Doctor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
One of 16 majors within the Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions area of study, Occupational Therapy has other similar majors worth exploring.
