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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Occupational Therapy/Therapist Schools in California

6 Colleges in the United States
1,483 Occupational Therapy/Therapist Degrees Awarded
$79,740 Avg Early-Career Salary

Occupational Therapy/Therapist degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their occupational therapy/therapist programs.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools to find the best for occupational therapy/therapist students.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Occupational Therapy/Therapist in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the occupational therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Occupational Therapy/Therapist

1

University Of Southern California tops our 2026 ranking of the best occupational therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 258 occupational therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Students who receive their occupational therapy/therapist degree from University Of Southern California earn around $77,049 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. See the full occupational therapy/therapist program report for University Of Southern California

2

Students looking for a strong occupational therapy/therapist program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 73 occupational therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year. See the full occupational therapy/therapist program report for San Jose State University

3
Loma Linda University crest
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA

A rank of #3 makes Loma Linda University one of the top schools for occupational therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Loma Linda University awarded about 49 occupational therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, occupational therapy/therapist degree recipients from Loma Linda University generally make around $78,518. Loma Linda University graduates carry a median of $25,094 in student loans. Read more about the occupational therapy/therapist program at Loma Linda University

4

Students looking for a strong occupational therapy/therapist program will find one at University Of The Pacific, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Stockton, University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 occupational therapy/therapist degrees were awarded at University Of The Pacific in the most recent year. Graduates of the occupational therapy/therapist program make about $88,755 in their early career. University Of The Pacific graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans. Get the full occupational therapy/therapist details for University Of The Pacific

5

Samuel Merritt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in occupational therapy/therapist, ranking #5. Located in the city of Oakland, Samuel Merritt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Samuel Merritt University awarded about 49 occupational therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their occupational therapy/therapist degree from Samuel Merritt University earn around $86,688 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree. See the full occupational therapy/therapist program report for Samuel Merritt University

6

Dominican University Of California ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best occupational therapy/therapist schools. Located in the city of San Rafael, Dominican University Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. Dominican University Of California awarded about 38 occupational therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the occupational therapy/therapist program make about $71,230 in their early career. Dominican University Of California graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read more about the occupational therapy/therapist program at Dominican University Of California

7

University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences came in at #7 for occupational therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of San Marcos, University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. There were roughly 730 occupational therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences in the most recent data year. Occupational Therapy/therapist graduates of University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences earn a median of $74,506 early in their careers. Read more about the occupational therapy/therapist program at University Of St Augustine For Health Sciences

8

West Coast University Center For Graduate Studies landed the #8 spot for occupational therapy/therapist this year. West Coast University Center For Graduate Studies is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. There were roughly 104 occupational therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at West Coast University Center For Graduate Studies in the most recent data year. Students who receive their occupational therapy/therapist degree from West Coast University Center For Graduate Studies earn around $86,227 in the first couple years of their career. Get the full occupational therapy/therapist details for West Coast University Center For Graduate Studies

9

California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #9 position for occupational therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. About 43% of students finish within six years. California State University Dominguez Hills awarded about 59 occupational therapy/therapist degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the occupational therapy/therapist program make about $74,937 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,886. See the full occupational therapy/therapist program report for California State University Dominguez Hills

10

Stanbridge College came in at #10 for occupational therapy/therapist this year. This mid-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of Irvine. There were roughly 87 occupational therapy/therapist students who graduated with this degree at Stanbridge College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their occupational therapy/therapist degree from Stanbridge College earn around $79,749 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,732 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in occupational therapy/therapist from Stanbridge College

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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