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Master's program ranking

Best Master's OT Programs

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

MOT programsMaster'sNBCOT outcomesACOTE matched
PublishedUpdated June 25, 2026NBCOT 2021-2025 public school-performance rows matched to active ACOTE entry-level OT master's program profiles.

Ranking report card

What this ranking covers

Coverage124 rankedPublished ranking table with sortable rows and shortlist comparison.
Profile depth124 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 master's 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 master's OT programs

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

124 ranked options
RankOptionScoreOutcome signalProgram contextBest forWatch out forCompare
1East Carolina University99.5100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageGreenville, NC; ACOTE next review 2034/2035Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Greenville, NC. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
2Missouri State University99.5100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageSpringfield, MO; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Springfield, MO. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
3Washington University98.398% NBCOT in 2025; 99.6% five-year averageSt. Louis, MO; ACOTE next review 2034/2035Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters 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.
4College of St. Scholastica98.1100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.4% five-year averageDuluth, MN; ACOTE next review 2031/2032Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Duluth, MN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
5Saginaw Valley State University98.1100% NBCOT in 2025; 98.8% five-year averageUniversity Center, MI; ACOTE next review 2031/2032Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in University Center, MI. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
6AdventHealth University98.0100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageOrlando, FL; ACOTE next review 2029/2030Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Orlando, FL. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
7University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill98.0100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageChapel Hill, NC; ACOTE next review 2030/2031Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Chapel Hill, NC. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
8Milligan University98.0100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.0% five-year averageMilligan, TN; ACOTE next review 2031/2032Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Milligan, TN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
9Indiana State University97.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.2% five-year averageTerre Haute, IN; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Terre Haute, IN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
10Murray State University-Paducah Regional Campus97.6100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.6% five-year averagePaducah, KY; ACOTE next review 2034/2035Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Paducah, KY. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
11Maryville University97.697% NBCOT in 2025; 98.8% five-year averageSt. Louis, MO; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters 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.
12Augusta University97.5100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.6% five-year averageAugusta, GA; ACOTE next review 2030/2031Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Augusta, GA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
13James Madison University97.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 98.2% five-year averageHarrisonburg, VA; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Harrisonburg, VA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
14St. Catherine University97.2100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.4% five-year averageSt. Paul, MN; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in St. Paul, MN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
15California State University, Dominguez Hills97.198% NBCOT in 2025; 98.4% five-year averageCarson, CA; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Carson, CA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
16Carroll University97.0100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.2% five-year averageWaukesha, WI; ACOTE next review 2030/2031Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Waukesha, WI. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
17Midwestern University-Glendale Campus97.096% NBCOT in 2025; 98.8% five-year averageGlendale, AZ; ACOTE next review 2034/2035Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Glendale, AZ. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
18University of New England96.9100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.0% five-year averagePortland, ME; ACOTE next review 2034/2035Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Portland, ME. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
19St. Louis University96.5100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.0% five-year averageSt. Louis, MO; ACOTE next review 2027/2028Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters 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.
20Cabarrus College of Health Sciences96.497% NBCOT in 2025; 97.8% five-year averageConcord, NC; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Concord, NC. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
21Florida Gulf Coast University96.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageFort Myers, FL; ACOTE next review 2026/2027Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Fort Myers, FL. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
22University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse96.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageLaCrosse, WI; ACOTE next review 2025/2026Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in LaCrosse, WI. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
23Nebraska Methodist College96.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 96.8% five-year averageOmaha, NE; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Omaha, NE. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
24A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Health Sciences96.2100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.8% five-year averageMesa, AZ; ACOTE next review 2029/2030Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Mesa, AZ. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This degree-specific ranking does not include program-specific tuition, scholarships, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
25University of Scranton96.298% NBCOT in 2025; 98.4% five-year averageScranton, PA; ACOTE next review 2030/2031Applicants comparing entry-level master's OT programs with complete matched five-year NBCOT outcome history.OT Masters in Scranton, PA. 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 master's OT programs and want an outcome-first screen separate from doctoral pathways.

Use it this way

  • Start with the master's list when program length, degree type, and cost sensitivity matter.
  • Open program profiles to compare NBCOT history, ACOTE review timing, format, and source confidence.
  • Use the ranking with cost, debt, fieldwork, commute, admissions fit, and state-market context before applying.

Ask before choosing

  • Does the master's pathway reduce time or cost without weakening outcomes or support?
  • Is the latest NBCOT result consistent with the multi-year pattern?
  • How does this option compare with nearby doctoral programs, public value programs, and hybrid formats?

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 master's OT 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 Master's OT Programs?

Use this ranking when you are comparing entry-level master's OT programs and want an outcome-first screen separate from doctoral pathways.

What sources does this ranking use?

NBCOT 2021-2025 public school-performance rows matched to active ACOTE entry-level OT master's 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 master's 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 OT doctorate programs, OT school cost and debt guide.

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