2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[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 7 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 the Rocky Mountains Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in occupational therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools
University Of Utah earned the #1 spot for value among occupational therapy/therapist schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, while out-of-state students pay about $30,860. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $20,798. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $63,793. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. University Of Utah admits about 86% of applicants.
Mesa State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapy/therapist, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Grand Junction, Mesa State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,927, while out-of-state students pay about $25,124. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $22,310. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Mesa State College earn a median of $43,617 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mesa State College admits about 82% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Montana earned it the #3 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,552 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,671. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $24,342. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from The University Of Montana generally make around $73,528. That is a strong return on a $24,342 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Idaho State University earned it the #4 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $24,640. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Idaho State University generally make around $75,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rocky Mountain College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in occupational therapy/therapist, landing the #5 spot this year. Rocky Mountain College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Billings. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,582. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $25,666. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Rocky Mountain College earn a median of $50,022 early in their careers. Set against $25,666 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins earned the #6 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $67,142 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
