2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Pennsylvania
[Occupational Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/occupational-therapy-therapist/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 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 Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in occupational therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools
Leading the list is Saint Francis University, our #1 best value for occupational therapy/therapist in Pennsylvania. Located in the rural area of Loretto, Saint Francis University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,388 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $29,750. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $66,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #2 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,568 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $51,364 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Gannon University one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,656. Students borrow a median of $26,934 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Gannon University earn a median of $67,291 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,934 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
A rank of #4 makes Cedar Crest College one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,314. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $30,759 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $67,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cedar Crest College admits about 84% of applicants.
Chatham University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,001 in tuition and fees. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,261 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $70,974. That is a strong return on a $24,261 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Misericordia University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Misericordia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,370. Students borrow a median of $27,262 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Misericordia University generally make around $68,087. Set against $27,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Elizabethtown College earned the #7 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,599 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Elizabethtown College generally make around $66,391. Set against $26,599 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Gwynedd Mercy College landed the #8 spot for occupational therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley, Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,838. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $29,764. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $65,243. That is a strong return on a $29,764 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Messiah College earned the #9 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Messiah College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Mechanicsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,240. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,195 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $73,524. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Thomas Jefferson University earned the #10 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,355. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $35,437. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Thomas Jefferson University generally make around $63,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Thomas Jefferson University admits about 81% of applicants.
Alvernia University came in at #11 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Alvernia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading. In-state tuition and fees average $45,000. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $31,900 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Alvernia University earn a median of $68,231 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,900 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University came in at #12 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Temple University earn a median of $59,914 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary came in at #13 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Bethlehem, Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,500. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $26,857. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $48,472. Set against $26,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 54%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,430 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,487 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,219 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,487 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Widener University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Widener University Main Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Chester. In-state tuition and fees average $55,730. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,561 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Widener University Main Campus generally make around $76,073. Set against $26,561 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Scranton ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,777. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of Scranton earn a median of $74,511 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University came in at #17 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,986. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Duquesne University earn a median of $71,021 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
Saint Josephs University earned the #18 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,260. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Saint Josephs University earn a median of $75,162 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,426 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
More Occupational Therapy/Therapist Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
