2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Arkansas

[Occupational Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/occupational-therapy-therapist/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong occupational therapy/therapist education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools.
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2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Arkansas
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 Arkansas State University Main Campus, our #1 best value for occupational therapy/therapist in Arkansas. Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Jonesboro. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,399 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $70,150. Set against $23,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Central Arkansas came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Students borrow a median of $22,920 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Central Arkansas generally make around $70,111. Set against $22,920 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Arkansas admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Arkansas one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,019 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $52,555. Set against $24,019 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
A rank of #4 makes Harding University one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,962. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $53,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 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.