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Best OTA Programs Overall

A source-backed ranking of active occupational therapy assistant programs that balances NBCOT outcomes, outcome consistency, ACOTE review runway, format clarity, and profile completeness.

OTA programsOverall rankingNBCOT outcomesACOTE matched
PublishedUpdated June 25, 2026NBCOT 2021-2025 public school-performance rows matched to active ACOTE OTA associate and baccalaureate program profiles.

Ranking report card

What this ranking covers

Coverage175 rankedPublished ranking table with sortable rows and shortlist comparison.
Profile depth175 profilesEvery ranked row opens a deeper profile or decision page.
FreshnessJune 25, 2026NBCOT 2021-2025 public school-performance rows matched to active ACOTE OTA associate and baccalaureate 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 OTA programs by overall source-backed score

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

175 ranked options
RankOptionScoreOutcome signalProgram contextBest forWatch out forCompare
1Rhodes State College99.5100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Lima, OH. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
2Central Piedmont Community College98.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2031/2032Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Charlotte, NC. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
3Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley98.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Kansas City, MO. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
4Grand Rapids Community College98.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Grand Rapids, MI. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
5Austin Community College98.0100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2029/2030Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Austin, TX. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
6Spokane Falls Community College98.0100% NBCOT in 2025; 100.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2029/2030Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Spokane, WA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
7South Texas College97.6100% NBCOT in 2025; 98.4% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.McAllen, TX. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
8Salt Lake Community College97.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 98.2% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.West Jordan, UT. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
9Cincinnati State Technical and Community College96.9100% NBCOT in 2025; 98.4% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2031/2032Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Cincinnati, OH. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
10Anoka Technical College96.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.6% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2031/2032Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Anoka, MN. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
11Community College of Allegheny County/Boyce Campus96.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 96.2% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Monroeville, PA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
12Rowan-Cabarrus Community College96.6100% NBCOT in 2025; 96.2% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2035/2036Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Salisbury, NC. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
13Cape Fear Community College96.5100% NBCOT in 2025; 96.8% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2034/2035Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Wilmington, NC. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
14Tyler Junior College96.4100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2031/2032Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Tyler, TX. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
15Linn-Benton Community College-Healthcare Occupations Center96.2100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Lebanon, OR. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
16University of Louisiana at Monroe96.2100% NBCOT in 2025; 96.6% five-year averageOTA Baccalaureate; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Monroe, LA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
17Ozarks Technical Community College96.2100% NBCOT in 2025; 96.4% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2033/2034Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Springfield, MO. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
18Cabarrus College of Health Sciences95.9100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2028/2029Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Concord, NC. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
19Southwestern Community College-Jackson/Sylva Campus95.9100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.6% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Sylva, NC. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
20Navarro College-Midlothian Campus95.9100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Midlothian, TX. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
21Wor-Wic Community College95.8100% NBCOT in 2025; 96.2% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Salisbury, MD. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
22Durham Technical Community College95.3100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.2% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2026/2027Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Durham, NC. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
23Sinclair Community College95.394% NBCOT in 2025; 98.8% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2031/2032Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Dayton, OH. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
24Mott Community College95.1100% NBCOT in 2025; 99.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2026/2027Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Fenton, MI. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.
25Bossier Parish Community College95.1100% NBCOT in 2025; 97.0% five-year averageOTA Associate; ACOTE next review 2032/2033Students comparing accredited OTA pathways with board-exam outcomes, accreditation timing, format clarity, and source coverage.Bossier City, LA. ACOTE status: Accreditation. This ranking does not include program-specific tuition, fieldwork quality, cohort size, or admissions selectivity.

Decision guide

How to use this ranking

Use this ranking when you want a national OTA shortlist that balances board outcomes with accreditation and program-context signals.

Use it this way

  • Start with the overall rank to find programs with stronger multi-year NBCOT performance.
  • Open program profiles to compare degree level, format, location, accreditation status, and next review timing.
  • Use cost, commute, fieldwork placement, transfer-credit, and local OTA job demand before deciding where to apply.

Ask before choosing

  • Is the program strong across the full five-year NBCOT window or only in the latest year?
  • Does the format fit my work, commute, lab, and fieldwork constraints?
  • Would the local OTA labor market support the settings I want after graduation?

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 OTA 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 OTA Programs Overall?

Use this ranking when you want a national OTA shortlist that balances board outcomes with accreditation and program-context signals.

What sources does this ranking use?

NBCOT 2021-2025 public school-performance rows matched to active ACOTE OTA associate and baccalaureate program profiles. The page links to the primary source material used for the ranking.

What can this ranking miss?

NBCOT public rows report percentages but do not include cohort counts in this import, so smaller programs can move more sharply year to year. This ranking includes active ACOTE-matched OTA programs with complete five-year matched NBCOT history; newer or unmatched programs may be excluded.

What should I read next?

Use this ranking with Best OTA associate programs, Best hybrid OTA programs, OTA salary by setting.

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