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Best OT Doctorate Programs

A source-backed ranking of active entry-level OT doctorate programs, using matched NBCOT outcomes, outcome consistency, ACOTE review runway, format clarity, and profile completeness.

OTD programsDoctorateNBCOT outcomesACOTE matched
PublishedUpdated June 25, 2026NBCOT 2021-2025 public school-performance rows matched to active ACOTE entry-level OT doctorate program profiles.

Ranking report card

What this ranking covers

Coverage44 rankedPublished ranking table with sortable rows and shortlist comparison.
Profile depth44 profilesEvery ranked row opens a deeper profile or decision page.
FreshnessJune 25, 2026NBCOT 2021-2025 public school-performance rows matched to active ACOTE entry-level OT doctorate program profiles.
Methodology5 factorsWeights sum to 100%, so readers can audit how the rank is built.
Score readComposite scorePrimary-source ranking. Scores compare options inside this ranking, not across every OT decision.

Ranking table

Top entry-level OT doctorate programs

Official data is kept separate from The OT Index scoring and interpretation so readers can see what is measured and what is judgment.

44 ranked options
RankOptionScoreOutcome signalProgram contextBest forWatch out forCompare
1MGH Institute of Health Professions99.5100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageBoston, MA; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Boston, MA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
2University of Tennessee at Chattanooga99.5100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageChattanooga, TN; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Chattanooga, TN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
3Duquesne University98.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averagePittsburgh, PA; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Pittsburgh, PA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
4Mary Baldwin University98.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageStaunton, VA; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Staunton, VA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
5Ohio State University98.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageColumbus, OH; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Columbus, OH. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
6Washington University98.5100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.0% five-year averageSt. Louis, MO; ACOTE next review 2034/2035Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in St. Louis, MO. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
7Kettering College98.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 98.4% five-year averageBeavercreek, OH; ACOTE next review 2034/2035Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Beavercreek, OH. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
8A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences98.0100% NBCOT in 2025; 98.8% five-year averageMesa, AZ; ACOTE next review 2035/2036Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Mesa, AZ. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
9Indiana Wesleyan University97.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 98.6% five-year averageMarion, IN; ACOTE next review 2034/2035Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Marion, IN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
10University of Toledo97.1100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageToledo, OH; ACOTE next review 2028/2029Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Toledo, OH. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
11University of Mississippi Medical Center96.6100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.6% five-year averageJackson, MS; ACOTE next review 2027/2028Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Jackson, MS. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
12University of South Dakota96.596% NBCOT in 2025; 99.2% five-year averageVermillion, SD; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Vermillion, SD. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
13Virginia Commonwealth University96.595% NBCOT in 2025; 98.6% five-year averageRichmond, VA; ACOTE next review 2035/2036Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Richmond, VA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
14Indiana University96.4100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.4% five-year averageIndianapolis, IN; ACOTE next review 2027/2028Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Indianapolis, IN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
15Belmont University96.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageNashville, TN; ACOTE next review 2025/2026Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Nashville, TN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
16Rush University96.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageChicago, IL; ACOTE next review 2026/2027Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Chicago, IL. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
17Boston University, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Sargent College)96.395% NBCOT in 2025; 98.0% five-year averageBoston, MA; ACOTE next review 2035/2036Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Boston, MA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
18Thomas Jefferson University-Center City Campus96.297% NBCOT in 2025; 97.8% five-year averagePhiladelphia, PA; ACOTE next review 2031/2032Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Philadelphia, PA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
19Huntington University96.196% NBCOT in 2025; 98.2% five-year averageFort Wayne, IN; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Fort Wayne, IN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
20University of Pittsburgh95.7100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.2% five-year averagePittsburgh, PA; ACOTE next review 2026/2027Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Pittsburgh, PA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
21Rocky Mountain College95.7100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.8% five-year averageBillings, MT; ACOTE next review 2027/2028Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Billings, MT. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
22University of Indianapolis95.794% NBCOT in 2025; 98.0% five-year averageIndianapolis, IN; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Indianapolis, IN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
23Creighton University95.697% NBCOT in 2025; 98.0% five-year averageOmaha, NE; ACOTE next review 2030/2031Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Omaha, NE. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
24Pacific University95.697% NBCOT in 2025; 97.6% five-year averageHillsboro, OR; ACOTE next review 2029/2030Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Hillsboro, OR. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
25Drake University95.098% NBCOT in 2025; 99.2% five-year averageDes Moines, IA; ACOTE next review 2025/2026Applicants comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Doctorate in Des Moines, IA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.

Decision guide

How to use this ranking

Use this ranking when you are comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs and want outcome context before evaluating cost, capstone fit, and fieldwork logistics.

Use it this way

  • Start with the OTD list when you specifically want a doctoral pathway, not a mixed master's and doctorate table.
  • Open program profiles to compare ACOTE timing, NBCOT history, format, and related ranking placements.
  • Pair the ranking with total cost, capstone expectations, fieldwork geography, commute, and admissions fit before applying.

Ask before choosing

  • Does the doctoral program justify any added time, cost, or capstone requirements?
  • Are the latest NBCOT result and five-year pattern both strong?
  • Does the program's format and fieldwork model fit my work, relocation, or caregiving constraints?

Methodology

How this ranking is weighted

Each ranking has its own weighting model. The table below shows the factors readers should consider before treating any rank as a final answer.

Latest NBCOT pass rate35%

NBCOT 2025 passing percentage for the matched entry-level OT doctorate program.

Five-year NBCOT average30%

Average NBCOT passing percentage across 2021-2025 rows, requiring five years for this published ranking.

Consistency floor15%

The lowest NBCOT passing percentage across the five-year window, used to reward steadier outcomes.

ACOTE review runway10%

Next listed ACOTE on-site review window, used as a program-stability signal.

Format and profile clarity10%

Delivery-format listing and source-profile completeness from the ACOTE-backed program record.

FAQ

Common questions about this ranking

These answers explain how to read the ranking, what the data can show, and where readers should verify fit before deciding.

How should I use Best OT Doctorate Programs?

Use this ranking when you are comparing entry-level doctoral OT programs and want outcome context before evaluating cost, capstone fit, and fieldwork logistics.

What sources does this ranking use?

NBCOT 2021-2025 public school-performance rows matched to active ACOTE entry-level OT doctorate program profiles. The page links to the primary source material used for the ranking.

What can this ranking miss?

This ranking includes active ACOTE-matched doctorate programs with complete five-year matched NBCOT history; newer or unmatched programs may be excluded. NBCOT public rows report percentages but do not include cohort counts in this import.

What should I read next?

Use this ranking with Compare OT schools, Best master's OT programs, How to choose an OT school.

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