2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Ohio

[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for occupational therapy/therapist students.
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2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Ohio
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
Kettering College tops our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools in Ohio. Kettering College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kettering. Students from in state pay about $16,320 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,543 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Kettering College earn a median of $68,489 early in their careers. Set against $32,543 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Shawnee State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Portsmouth, Shawnee State University is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,448, with out-of-state students paying around $16,032. Students borrow a median of $25,233 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Shawnee State University earn a median of $64,138 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,233 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cleveland State University earned it the #3 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $26,336. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $66,152. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Toledo earned it the #4 place for occupational therapy/therapist. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,685. That is a strong return on a $24,875 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $22,053. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $70,332. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Walsh University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,030. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $28,064 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $69,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Walsh University admits about 71% of applicants.
Muskingum University earned the #7 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Muskingum University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of New Concord. In-state tuition and fees average $31,701. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,932 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Muskingum University generally make around $39,918. That is a strong return on a $26,932 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $70,824. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
The University Of Findlay landed the #9 spot for occupational therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the town of Findlay, The University Of Findlay is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,164. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,759 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of The University Of Findlay earn a median of $76,841 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 11 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.