The Students Before Profits Award was created to promote nonprofit colleges and universities offering online degree programs that put students before profits and education before the bottom line. For our Online Doctorates in Occupational Therapy award winners, we selected online and hybrid/low-residency programs from accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities and have ranked the programs according to their affordability.
Occupational therapeutic post-acute care, which takes place in the home, rehabilitation settings, and skilled nursing facilities, was the largest and fastest-growing category of Medicare spending from 1994-2009. In 2017, occupational therapy, as a profession, will celebrate 100 years of service in providing science-driven, evidence based resources and care to address society’s needs in a globally connected and diverse workforce. As OT becomes a more specialized field of health care, professional clinicians and scholar leaders with increasingly advanced knowledge and skills to drive the field forward are needed. A Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy or Clinical Occupational Therapy Doctorate will prepare graduates to fill positions created by this growing demand.
Note that tuition rates listed below are based on cost per credit and individual programs may have additional fees.
Ranking the Best OTD Programs
#1. A.T. Still University
A.T. Still University is a private nonprofit graduate university established in 1892 focusing on health sciences as well as the world’s first osteopathic medical school. The university is located in Kirksville, Missouri with a second campus located in Arizona and includes six schools and colleges offering programs in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, occupational therapy, and health management. A.T. Still University enrolls over 3,300 students.
Program Overview
A.T. Still University offers an Occupational Therapy Doctorate available online for those who already hold an entry-level, professional degree in occupational therapy. The mission of the program is to enable occupational therapists to develop roles and skills beyond that of the therapist-clinician, and to educate them to become practitioner-scholars who can translate knowledge into practice and who are capable of serving as agents of change in new and expanded arenas. The program requires 48 quarter credits for completion.
Accreditation: A.T. Still University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $24,480
#2. Eastern Kentucky University
Located in Richmond, Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research university. The school offers over 25 online degree programs and more than 160 on-campus programs. EKU was founded in 1906 and has a campus of almost 900 acres.
Program Overview
Eastern Kentucky University’s online Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is designed for students who are occupational therapists with a master’s degree in occupational therapy or another field and who seek to become ethical leaders of change in occupational therapy services for diverse populations. the program can be completed in just over two years of part-time study and requires 40 credits for completion. Students may or may not be able to have their practicum experience arranged in their state of residence, so students should enquire about their state at the time of inquiry.
Accreditation: Eastern Kentucky University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $25,200
#3. Concordia University—Wisconsin
Concordia University is a private liberal arts university founded in 1881 and affiliated with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. CUW enrolls over 7,900 students and offers over 130 degree programs and certificates at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level. The university is ranked #68 by U.S. News in Best Regional Universities (Midwest).
Program Overview
The online Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at Concordia University prepares students for entry into the range of positions associated with this specialty in as few as two years. The program is organized into three tracks: Head and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation, Teaching in Higher Education, and Pediatrics. The online format requires just two campus visits and combines classroom, laboratory, and supervised clinic-based instruction for a well-rounded and uniquely supportive online learning experience. A minimum of 34 credits are required for completion of the degree.
Accreditation: Concordia University Wisconsin is regionally accredited through the North Central Association for Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $25,508
#4. Mount Mary University
Mount Mary University (formerly Mount Mary College) is a private, nonprofit, Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The university was founded in 1913 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and was Wisconsin’s first four-year, degree-granting Catholic college for women. Today, the university serves women at the undergraduate level and both women and men at the graduate level. The university enrolls nearly 1,500 students and offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 30 academic majors, as well as eight master’s and doctoral degree programs.
Program Overview
Mount Mary University offers an Occupational Therapy Doctorate available as a part-time distance-delivered program. The program is designed for practicing occupational therapists who seek to advance competencies in specialty practice and service delivery. Practitioners with a bachelor’s degree transition to a Master of Science degree prior to beginning the doctoral program. The program is fully online through asynchronous classes. Online courses are offered on a part-time basis and students are encouraged to continue working in their current OT employment settings. Students are required to attend just one campus visit to present a final portfolio. 34 credits are required for completion of the program.
Accreditation: Mount Mary is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $26,180
#5. Chatham University
Chatham University is a private coeducational university, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was, until recently, an all-women’s college, but voted on May 1, 2014 to allow both genders to enroll in its bachelor, master, and doctoral programs. It has an enrollment of over 2,300 students and was founded in 1869. U.S. News ranks Chatham University #56 in Best Regional Universities (North).
Program Overview
The Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program at Chatham University is designed for occupational therapy clinicians and/or academicians who want to enhance their careers and be professional leaders. Students learn to apply evidence based literature and bring practice to a heightened level of professional accountability, develop into a professional leader in areas of public policy, professional advocacy, and business management, gain additional theoretical knowledge and clinical competence, and practice concepts of educational theory and measurement as it relates to both clients and students. A minimum of 30 credits are required for completion of the degree.
Accreditation: Chatham University is regionally accredited by the Middle States commision on Higher Education and the programs in nursing are recognized by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Tuition: $26,310
#6. University of Kansas Medical Center
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas, with the main campus located in Lawrence. The university was opened in 1866, under a charter granted by the Kansas Legislature in 1864 following enabling legislation passed in 1863 under the Kansas Constitution. KU enrolls around 27,000 students in a full-range of academic programs. The university’s Medical Center and University Hospital are located in Kansas City, Kansas.
Program Overview
The University of Kansas Medical Center offers a Doctor of Occupational Therapy administered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous online learning. The program is designed for therapists already in practice seeking to increase their knowledge and skills at a doctoral level. A minimum of 30 credits are required for completion of the degree.
Accreditation: The University of Kansas is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Nursing programs are recognized by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Tuition
In-State: $11,220
Out-of-State: $26,400
#7. Texas Woman’s University
Texas Woman’s University is a public university located in Denton, Texas. The university is coeducational, and while men are admitted into all programs offered, TWU is best known as being the largest state-supported university for women in the US. TWU was founded in 1901 and is an independent public institution, not affiliated with any of Texas’ university systems. Today, TWU enrolls over 15,200 students.
Program Overview
Texas Woman’s University offers a Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy as distance study program through online coursework with one or two campus visits per semester. This is primarily a research degree that prepares occupational therapists for advanced scholarly careers in academia and practice. Graduates will have developed the ability to contribute new or expanded knowledge, skills, and attitudes to the discipline of occupational therapy. The program consists of 45 credits taken through TWU and is open to students who hold a master’s degree in occupational therapy.
Accreditation: Texas Woman’s University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition
In-State: $10,935
Out-of-State: $26,460
#8. Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions
The Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is an institution of higher education located in Provo, Utah, primarily offering graduate studies in health related fields. It first opened in 1998. The university enrolls just over 300 students in programs in clinical electrophysiology, nursing practice, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
Program Overview
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions’ Doctor of Occupational Therapy is a post-professional program offered through blended (online and on-site formats). The program offers concentrations in: Administration and Practice Management, Aging, Education, Hand Therapy, Pediatrics, and Work and Health.The program requires 32 to 37 credits.
Accreditation: Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Tuition: $25,568-$29,563
#9. Salus University
Salus University was founded as the Pennsylvania State College of Optometry in 1919 and is located in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. A private non-profit school, Salus offers degree programs in the professions of optometry, audiology, physician assistant, blindness and low vision, occupational therapy, public health, and biomedicine.
Program Overview
Salus University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is offered primarily through online learning with exception of two courses requiring two five-day residency periods on campus in Philadelphia. The program is designed for students who seek to advance as future leaders, clinical experts, or academics, with an emphasis on interprofessional collaboration. Students choose a specialty track that meets their needs and interests, including Remedial Vision Rehabilitation, Low Vision Rehabilitation, and Health and Wellness. 30 credits total are required for completion of the degree.
Accreditation: Salus University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $27,630
#10. Creighton University
Founded in 1878, Creighton University is a small Jesuit university in Omaha, Nebraska with a rich history of quality faith-based education. With only about 7,000 currently enrolled students, Creighton offers personalized one-on-one attention and small class sizes, giving students a customized learning experience. The university was founded as Creighton College in 1878 and today encompasses 9 colleges and schools.
Program Overview
Creighton University’s School of Pharmacy and Health Professions offers a Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate emphasizing the development of occupational therapy practitioners who can transform practice through developing personal and professional leadership skills. The program is offered entirely online except for a foundational introductory course and a one-time research intensive. Students are required to come to campus 3 times during the program, including orientation, research training, and graduation. This program consists of 47 taught credits, plus 16 professional rotation credits. Students possessing a master’s degree can waive 6 credits of electives and up to 9 credits of OT coursework if the master’s degree is in OT for a total of 48 credits.
Accreditation: Creighton University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $28,032-$36,792
#11. Quinnipiac University
Located in Hamden, Connecticut, Quinnipiac University is classified as a private non-sectarian coeducational institution of higher learning founded in 1929 Quinnipiac University. Enrolling 8,400 students, Quinnipiac offers 53 undergraduate and 20 graduate programs through its eight schools or colleges, as well as a Juris Doctorate for aspiring lawyers. Quinnipiac University offers 12 different online degree programs in subjects including business administration, social media, forensic nursing, organizational leadership, occupational therapy, teacher leadership and information technology.
Program Overview
Quinnipiac University’s clinically focused online Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program is designed for registered occupational therapists to develop advanced professional knowledge and evolve in OT related careers. The program is completed with minimal on-campus requirements and 32 credits of graduate level work in theory, ethics, policy, advocacy, and critical inquiry. in addition to the post-master OTD program a BS to OTD bridge is also offered.
Accreditation: Quinnipiac University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $29,440
#12. Misericordia University
Misericordia University is a four-year, Catholic, co-educational liberal arts university located in Dallas, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Religious Sisters of Mercy on August 15, 1924. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees as well as post-master’s and post-bachelor’s certificates. The university enrolls over 3,200 students.
Program Overview
The Occupational Therapy Doctorate offered through Misericordia University is an online hybrid program focused on academic growth in clinical practice areas of occupational therapy, and promotes intellectual discourse through both program content and format. Evidence based practice, a strong component of the curriculum, requires advanced critical thinking and a thorough understanding of research. The program is designed to be completed part-time (two classes per semester) over a 2 year trimester period. Classes meet a maximum of 2 weekends per term. A minimum of 33 credits are required for completion of the program.
Accreditation: Misericordia University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Tuition: $31,185
#13. Philadelphia University
Philadelphia University, founded in 1884, is a private university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school enrolls over 3,500 students in a variety of academic programs that are divided among the College of Architecture and the Built Environment; the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce; and the College of Science, Health and the Liberal Arts; the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Many courses are also offered via PhilaU Online.
Program Overview
The Clinical Occupational Therapy Doctorate offered by Philadelphia University is designed to meet the needs of a range of occupational therapists who want to further their knowledge and careers and includes entry points for post master and post bachelor OT degree possessing students. The program is a low-residency online program with just two campus visits throughout the course of study. Students possessing a master’s degree in occupational therapy are required to complete 30 credits, while bachelor’s possessing students will complete 39 credits.
Accreditation: Philadelphia University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Tuition: $31,500
#14. University of Indianapolis
The University of Indianapolis is a private nonprofit university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, which is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Established in 1902, the university offers associate’s, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees, and enrolls more than 5,400 students. In addition to programs offered through its main campus, the University of Indianapolis also offers degree programs through partnerships in China and Belize.
Program Overview
The College of Health Sciences at the University of Indianapolis offers a Post Professional Doctor of Health Science in which students work to become strong leaders and advocates in their chosen fields within clinical health sciences. The majority of the program can be completed online with exception of the clinical concentration courses, which are offered in a hybrid format requiring one weekend on campus for hands-on instruction in clinical skills. A minimum of 60 credits are required for completion of the degree. Each candidate must successfully work collaboratively with a faculty advisor to develop and complete a juried project.
Accreditation: The University of Indianapolis is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. U of I also holds specialized accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Tuition: $32,250 (total tuition will vary depending on length of “juried period”)
#15. Virginia Commonwealth University
Located in Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public research university founded in 1838 as a Medical College. Today the school enrolls over 31,100 students in over 220 different degree and certificate programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level. The Carnegie Foundation classifies VCU as an institution with very high research activity and is ranked by various national publications as a top university with many of its programs recognized as among the best programs of their kind.
Program Overview
The Department of Occupational Therapy at VCU offers an online Post Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy designed to provide graduates with the practical leadership skills to drive change and benefit occupational therapy practice. Both post bachelor and post masters tracks are available. 30 credits are required post-master and 40 credits are required post-bachelor.
Accreditation: Virginia Commonwealth University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Social Work programs are recognized by the Council on Social Work Education Office of Social work Accreditation.
Tuition
In-State: $15,900
Out-of-State: $32,670
#16. Governors State University
Governors State University is a public university located in University Park, Illinois, 30 miles south of Chicago. GSU was founded in 1969. As of the fall semester 2014, it transitions from an upper-division public university that admitted juniors, seniors and graduate-level students to a comprehensive public university that offers degree programs at the undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels. Governors State University comprises four colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Public Administration, the College of Education, and the College of Health and Human Services. GSU enrolls over 7,700 students.
Program Overview
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy offered through Governors State University is an advanced practice clinical degree designed for applicants with either an entry-level Master of Occupational Therapy or a Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy, plus an earned master’s degree in any field. The program is offered through web-based and web-hybrid courses. Students develop individual study plans that incorporate their research interests into the coursework. A minimum of 33 credits are required for completion of the degree.
Accreditation: Governors State University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition
In-State: $22,869
Out-of-State: $32,670
#17. Towson University
A public university located in Baltimore County, Maryland, Towson University was founded in 1866 as a teachers’ training school. The four-year institution is now part of the University System of Maryland, enrolls over 20,000 students, and still graduates more teachers than any other university in the state. Towson has recently been recognized by Forbes, the U.S. News & World Report, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance for its academic quality and affordable tuition.
Program Overview
The College of Health Professions at Towson University offers a Doctor of Science in Occupational Science designed to prepare students possessing a master’s degree in occupational therapy or a related field for advanced-level research and leadership roles in academia, practice, advocacy, and administration. The program is delivered through a combination of distance education and directly supervised learning. This particular program may require more on-site time than other “low-residency” programs, but should still provide enough flexibility for students learning from a distance. Between 43 and 51 credits are required for completion of the degree.
Accreditation: Towson University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition
In-State: $15,996-$18,972
Out-of-State: $33,110-$$39,270
#18. Saint Catherine University
Founded in 1905, Saint Catherine University is a private Catholic university located in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Known for years as the nation’s largest college for women, today St. Catherine’s offers bachelor’s degrees for women and graduate programs to women and men. The university enrolls over 5,000 students and is known for its strong advocacy of social justice ethics that are woven throughout all of its programs.
Program Overview
Saint Catherine’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is administered entirely online and prepares occupational therapists to best meet emerging challenges in the complex and rapidly changing healthcare environment. Grounded in evidence, students learn to lead and influence systemic change, advocate for occupational justice, and develop expertise in a specialty practice area. The program requires 35 credits for completion
Accreditation: Saint Catherine University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $33,425
#19. Brenau University
Brenau University is a private, nonprofit university located in Gainesville, Georgia. The university was founded in 1878 and currently enrolls over 2,800 students throughout multiple campuses and in online programs. BU is ranked #43 in Best Regional Universities (South) by U.S. News.
Program Overview
Brenau University’s Post Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy is offered with minimal residency requirements and online coursework. The program will prepare practicing occupational therapists to become advanced practitioners who are evidence-based leaders and offers courses in pediatrics, neuroscience/neuro-rehab, and community practice. 36 credits at minimum are required for completion of the degree.
Accreditation: Brenau University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $33,480
#20. University of the Sciences
University of the Sciences is a health science focused institution of higher learning located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The School was founded in 1821 when a convention of 68 apothecaries in Philadelphia came together with the aim of increasing scientific standards and improving training for students and apprentices in the apothecary trade. A year later, they came together and incorporated the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, the first pharmaceutical college in the nation. Today the university enrolls nearly 2,800 students in 30 degree granting programs in various areas of health sciences ranging from pharmacy to physical therapy.
Program Overview
The USciences online Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program is designed for working professionals is built around advanced curriculum and diverse electives to expand students’ skills, talents, and views around the student’s own schedule. A minimum of 33 credits are required for completion of the degree and only two campus visits are required throughout the course of study.
Accreditation: University of the Sciences is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Tuition: $35,211
#21. Thomas Jefferson University
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University is a private nonprofit health sciences university founded in 1825. As an academic health care center, Jefferson is currently involved in education, medical research, and patient care. Jefferson’s Medical College is the 9th oldest American medical school that is in existence today.Jefferson University enrolls over 2,800 students.
Program Overview
The Occupational Therapy Doctorate offered through the Jefferson College of Health Professions is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to be an innovator in traditional and emerging areas of occupational therapy. the post-professional program is available in an online format and offers highly individualized planning to create a career trajectory that is right for each student. Students entering with a Bachelor’s degree will be required to complete a minimum of 46 credits. Students entering the program with a Master’’s degree may apply 10 to 12 credits to the 46 credit minimum.
Accreditation: Thomas Jefferson University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $36,006-$48,714
#22. Temple University
Temple University is a public research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Temple enrolls over 37,000 students and offers over 400 degree granting programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Temple University has been recognized as being among the nation’s largest providers of professional education programs.
Program Overview
Temple’s advanced Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Leadership is offered in a distance education format with two to three required on-campus meetings per year. The program is designed to prepare therapists to become clinical specialists, program developers, and clinical educators. A minimum of 30 credits are required for completion of the degree which include 9 credits of speciality coursework in the students specific area of clinical interest.
Accreditation: Temple University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Business programs are recognized by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Tuition
In-State: $26,430
Out-of-State: $36,360
#23. Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. More than 100 certificate and degree programs are offered by the schools of allied health professions, behavioral health, dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and religion. Curricula offered range from certificates of completion and associate in science degrees to doctor of philosophy and professional doctoral degrees. LLU also offers distance education. It is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the world’s second largest Christian school system. The school enrolls over 3,400 students.
Program Overview
Loma Linda University’s School of Allied Health Professions offers a Doctor of Occupational Therapy program through flexible online format. The program embraces people-centered interventions that include both traditional and emerging practice settings. Students will be challenged to reflect upon their social responsibilities as health professional to promote health and participation not only at the individual level but at community and societal levels. A minimum of 53 quarter credits are required for completion of the degree, which takes two years of full-time study.
Accreditation: Loma Lind University is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Schools.
#24. Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University of St. Louis, Missouri, is a private research university founded in 1818. A member institution of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Saint Louis University is the second-oldest Jesuit university in the nation. The school’s historic campus is comprised of 271 urban acres and includes libraries, museums, and the relatively new clock tower that has become the heart of Saint Louis University’s on-campus life.
Program Overview
Saint Louis University’s Doisy College of Health Sciences offers a hybrid online/onsite Occupational Therapy Doctorate for working adult occupational therapy professionals who wish to develop practice area, policy and leadership, or educational specializations. The curriculum is based in core occupational science and occupational therapy, research outcomes, and education courses, with concentration courses tailored to each student’s area of interest. Distance Learning Options: Throughout the program, three weekend residencies at Saint Louis University will be required. A minimum of 30 credits are required for completion of the degree. Students entering with a BS degree are required to take 6 additional SLU graduate credits and 6 additional graduate credits which may be transferred in from another university
Accreditation: Saint Louis University is regionally accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
Tuition: $38,100 – $53,340
Tuition: $36,941
#25. George Washington University
George Washington University in the nation’s capital, is named for the first U.S. president. It has ten undergrad and graduate colleges and schools, plus campuses in Foggy Bottom, Mount Vernon, and Virginia. It receives regular high rankings for its Law, Business and International Affairs schools. It is particularly noted for being a politically active school, with notable alumni including former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, former Secretary of State General Colin Powell, numerous senators, House representatives, and ambassadors, amongst others. The online offering for GWU includes undergrad (associate’s, bachelor’s) and grad (master’s, doctoral) degrees, certificates and one-off courses – some exclusively online – and hybrid options. See school Web site for more details.
Program Overview
George Washington University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program addresses the advanced practice needs of occupational therapy professionals who are interested in interdisciplinary care of post-acute and chronic conditions. The program uses an online learning format and can be completed 100% online. The GW OTD program prepares graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to demonstrate to individuals how to accomplish daily tasks using therapeutic activities. A minimum of 36 credits are required for completion of the degree.
Accreditation: George Washington University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $39,240
#26. Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University’s main campus is situated in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A nonsectarian research university, NSU is the nation’s eighth-largest not-for-profit private university. Founded in the 1960s, the land occupied by the university was formerly a naval training airfield built during World War II. The campus also hosts the “University School of Nova Southeastern University”, a college preparatory school that serves grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12. NSU’s online programs are in full compliance with the Southern Regional Education Board’s set of Principles of Good Practice for electronic campuses.
Program Overview
Nova Southeastern’s Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy is offered primarily through distance education with some scheduled on-campus classes. The program includes OT core courses, multi-disciplinary core courses, electives, research residency, qualifying process, and completion of a dissertation study and report. While coursework is completed through online learning technology, there is a one-week on-campus Summer Research Institute, a research residency requirement, and a qualifying process prior to starting the dissertation. A minimum of 61 credits are required for completion of the degree.
Accreditation: Nova Southeastern University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $39,650
#27. Duquesne University
A private Catholic university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Duquesne University was founded as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in late 1878. By 1911, what is now Duquesne University became the first Catholic university in Pennsylvania. Duquesne has a sister campus in Rome and, at its main campus, hosts international students from over eighty different countries. Considered a research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Duquesne University is the only Spiritan institution of higher learning in the world.
Program Overview
Duquesne University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate is administered online with only two brief campus visits at the start and end of the program. The program is designed for working professionals to develop skills and advance in clinical practice careers, assume teaching roles in academia, or take leadership roles in management, administration, and policy development. A minimum of 32 credits are required and the degree can be completed in just 2 years of study.
Accreditation: Duquesne University is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Tuition: $40,128
#28. Barry University
Barry University is a private, Catholic university that was founded in 1940 in Miami Shores, Florida, a suburb north of Downtown Miami. It is one of the largest Catholic universities in the region. Barry offers business, nursing, health sciences, teacher education, and liberal arts programs and currently enrolls more than 4,000 students in more than 60 traditional undergraduate programs, accelerated bachelor’s programs designed specifically for working adults, and more than 50 graduate programs.
Program Overview
Barry University’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers a Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree. This flexible, distance-delivered program is designed for NBCOT certified occupational therapists who wish to advance their education beyond the master’s level. The program consists of 36 credits of coursework delivered via synchronous and asynchronous online meetings as well as 16 weeks of residency requirements dispersed in short periods throughout the 2 years of study.
Accreditation: Barry University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Tuition: $40,500
#29. University of Utah
Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, the University of Utah is a public, space grant university and the state’s flagship campus. Established in 1850, the university is the state’s oldest institution of higher learning, today enrolling over 32,300 students. University of Utah is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as an institution with “very high research activity.”
Program Overview
The Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at the University of Utah is designed for practicing occupational therapists and focuses on providing students with a stronger, more up-to-date theoretical base, advancing their leadership skills, as well as providing them with knowledge and skills in evidence-based research related to their chosen area of emphasis. The program will enable students to become clinical scholars who will continue to function as occupational therapists within their scope of practice, contribute to the evidence-based literature that drives practice, and become leaders in the profession. The program is offered fully online with no residency requirements. A minimum of 36 credits are required for graduation.
Accreditation: The University of Utah is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Tuition
In-State: $20,025
Out-of-State: $41,073
#30. Boston University
Boston University is a private, nonsectarian research university founded in 1839 as the Newbury Bible Institute in Newbury, Vermont. The school went through a number of changes before relocating to Boston in 1847. The university boasts many notable alumni and academics including Helen Magill White, the first woman to receive a Ph.D. from an American university; Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone; American Civil Rights Movement Leader Martin Luther King, Jr.; poets Robert Lowell and Robert Pinsky; Elie Wiesel, winner of the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize, Holocaust survivor, activist, and Jewish-American professor; and Pulitzer Prize winner and author Jhumpa Lahiri. Seven Nobel Laureates and 35 Pulitzer Prize winners are among BU’s faculty and graduates.
Program Overview
Boston University’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is offered exclusively in a distance learning format, and is open to graduates from any ACOTE-accredited entry-level occupational therapy program or (for international applicants) graduates of a WFOT-approved program. The program is designed to prepare students to critically evaluate theory and evidence in their area of practice, identify gaps or shortcomings in current intervention methods and programs, and design innovative responses to fill those unmet needs. The program consists of 33 credits and can be completed in 16 months.
Accreditation: Boston University is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Tuition: $47,124
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