2026 Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in the Southwest Region
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 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 the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the occupational therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools
The University Of Texas Pan American tops our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Students borrow a median of $16,014 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. That is a strong return on a $16,014 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas Womans University earned it the #2 place for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $24,211. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $60,449. That is a strong return on a $24,211 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At El Paso one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $19,819. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $54,584. Set against $19,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Northeastern State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value occupational therapy/therapist schools. Set in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,810 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,290. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,465 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Northeastern State University generally make around $78,311. That is a strong return on a $23,465 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Langston University one of the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Langston University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Langston. In-state tuition and fees average $6,863, compared with $14,616 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $30,017 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of Langston University earn a median of $39,579 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,017 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Tyler landed the #6 spot for occupational therapy/therapist value this year. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,512, while out-of-state students pay about $24,512. Students borrow a median of $20,959 to complete the occupational therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $55,134. That is a strong return on a $20,959 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Northern Arizona University earned the #7 position for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $21,645. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $76,945. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus came in at #8 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Typical student debt for occupational therapy/therapist graduates is $19,738. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $71,142 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Abilene Christian University landed the #9 spot for occupational therapy/therapist value this year. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. In-state tuition and fees average $44,200. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Abilene Christian University generally make around $74,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of Mary Hardin Baylor placed #10 among the best values for occupational therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Belton, University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,300 in tuition and fees. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,782 in student loans. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Mary Hardin Baylor generally make around $77,157. Set against $26,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University came in at #11 for value in occupational therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. Early-career occupational therapy/therapist graduates make about $74,108. That is a strong return on a $23,928 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
