2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in Kentucky
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 4 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 Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in occupational therapy/therapist, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools
Murray State University earned the #1 spot for value among occupational therapy/therapist schools in Kentucky. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Students borrow a median of $23,420 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $65,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Kentucky University earned it the #2 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,320, compared with $21,230 for out-of-state students. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $20,900 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $72,578. That is a strong return on a $20,900 median debt. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
Spalding University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Louisville, Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $29,862. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Spalding University earn a median of $59,918 early in their careers. Set against $29,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Spalding University admits about 99% of applicants.
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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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
