Admissions

How to Choose an OT School

By · Updated October 9, 2026 · Sources: ACOTE directory + each program’s own website

Compare programs on outcomes and fit, not rankings: accreditation status, NBCOT pass rate, graduation rate, degree and length, format, total cost, fieldwork placements, and admission requirements.

  1. Accreditation status. Fully accredited is safest. Candidacy and Preaccreditation programs are new; ask about their timeline. Every listing on this site shows the ACOTE status.
  2. NBCOT pass rate. Look up first-time pass rates on NBCOT’s school performance page.
  3. Graduation rate. ACOTE-accredited programs publish their graduation rates; ask what happened to students who did not finish.
  4. Degree and length. Master’s or OTD, and how many months including fieldwork. Master’s vs. doctorate.
  5. Format and schedule. On campus, hybrid or weekend? How often must you be on campus? Hybrid programs.
  6. Total cost. Tuition for the whole program plus fees, living costs and fieldwork travel. In-state public programs are often the least expensive.
  7. Fieldwork. Where are placements, and do you need to relocate for them?
  8. Admissions fit. Prerequisites, GPA minimums, observation hours, and whether the program uses OTCAS. Prerequisites.

Compare accredited programs

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important thing to check in an OT program?

Accreditation status. Only graduates of ACOTE-accredited programs can take the NBCOT exam. New programs in Candidacy or Preaccreditation must reach full accreditation before their graduates can test.

Where can I find a program’s NBCOT pass rate?

NBCOT publishes school results on its school performance page, and ACOTE requires programs to publish outcomes on their websites.

Are cheaper OT programs worse?

Not necessarily. Public universities often cost much less for in-state students. Compare accreditation status, NBCOT pass rate, graduation rate and total cost, not just ranking.