2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in North Carolina
[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.
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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina At Chapel Hill tops our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools in North Carolina. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $15,117. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $58,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,117 median debt. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Winston Salem State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,126, compared with $16,782 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $58,227. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
East Carolina University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,361, with out-of-state students paying around $23,638. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $56,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Concord, Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,550. Students borrow a median of $24,414 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $60,869. Set against $24,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cabarrus College Of Health Sciences admits about 23% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in occupational therapy/therapist will find it at Wingate University, which ranked #5. Wingate University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wingate. In-state tuition and fees average $42,576. Students borrow a median of $25,556 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Wingate University earn a median of $73,520 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,556 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Pfeiffer University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Located in the rural area of Misenheimer, Pfeiffer University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,070. Students borrow a median of $26,375 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Pfeiffer University generally make around $54,891. Set against $26,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Lenoir Rhyne University placed #7 among the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,900 in tuition and fees. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,900 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $68,628. Set against $26,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lenoir Rhyne University admits about 85% of applicants.
Methodist University came in at #8 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Methodist University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fayetteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,250. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,604 in student loans. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Methodist University earn a median of $73,105 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,604 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University came in at #9 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,758 in tuition and fees. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $68,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
More Occupational Therapy/Therapist Rankings
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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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
