OT school profile
University of Pittsburgh OT Doctorate
Pittsburgh, PA. Compare accreditation status, delivery format, ACOTE review timing, and NBCOT results for this occupational therapy program.
Program snapshot
At-a-glance facts before you shortlist
Start with the visible facts applicants expect, then use the decision snapshot and source links to see what public data can and cannot answer.
At-a-glance
University of Pittsburgh
College Scorecard values are institution-level, not OT-program-specific admissions or tuition guarantees.
- Location
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Credential
- OT Doctorate
- Latest NBCOT
- 100% (2025)
- Accreditation
- Accreditation
- Format
- Campus-basedDistance: 0%
- Next ACOTE review
- 2026/2027
- In-state tuition
- $21,926Institution-level Scorecard
- Acceptance rate
- 58%Institution-level Scorecard
- Enrollment
- 20,370Undergraduate Scorecard
- Median debt
- $24,250Institution-level Scorecard
Our take
University of Pittsburgh program assessment
Why it stands out
- The strongest evidence is consistency: a 99.2% 5-year NBCOT average with a 98% floor is much more persuasive than one perfect year.
- The campus-centered format can suit students who want regular access to labs, faculty, and a local cohort rather than primarily online instruction.
Tradeoffs that matter
- Its #112 overall ot programs placement does not separate it from the strongest national options on the measures used in that comparison.
- An entry-level OTD is the longer, more intensive route to OT licensure. Its capstone and doctoral training need to matter to you; otherwise, a strong master's program may reach the same credential with less school.
- Campus-based means this is still a campus-centered program. It is a poor fit for someone who needs most coursework to be remote.
What to compare next
- Put this OTD beside strong master's options and compare the added doctoral time with the capstone, faculty access, and specialty opportunities you would actually use.
- Use the 99.2% five-year NBCOT average and 98% low year when comparing outcomes; they say more about consistency than the latest 100% result alone.
- Compare required campus days and fieldwork travel with genuinely hybrid programs; the limited distance component here will not solve a long commute.
Ranking placement
Where this program appears in The OT Index
Published placements show where this program sits nationally, with the key facts to check before shortlisting.
| Program | OT Doctorate program |
|---|---|
| Institution type | Public |
| Location | Bridgeside Point I, 100 Technology Drive, Suite 350, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3142 |
| Last ACOTE on-site review | 2019/2020 |
| Next ACOTE on-site review | 2026/2027 |
| Source coverage | ACOTE, NBCOT |
Applicant read
How the program's structure changes the decision
Degree level, delivery format, and accreditation timing create different kinds of value even when two programs have similar outcomes.
Degree path
This is an entry-level doctoral pathway. Compare the added time and cost against fieldwork quality, capstone fit, faculty access, and local career return.
Format fit
A campus-based format favors students who value regular access to faculty, labs, and a local cohort. The cost is less control over commute and weekly schedule than a genuinely hybrid program offers.
Accreditation review context
ACOTE lists the next review window as 2026/2027. This is scheduling context, not a quality grade; confirm the program's current status and any review outcome directly with ACOTE.
NBCOT performance
Certification exam performance history
The OT Index stores the public NBCOT school-performance rows by program type and year, then links rows to ACOTE profiles when the school name can be matched.
| Year | NBCOT school name | Program type | Passing % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | University of Pittsburgh | OT Doctoral-Level Programs | 100% |
| 2024 | University of Pittsburgh | OT Doctoral-Level Programs | 98% |
| 2023 | University of Pittsburgh | OT Doctoral-Level Programs | 98% |
| 2022 | University of Pittsburgh | OT Doctoral-Level Programs | 100% |
| 2021 | University of Pittsburgh | OT Doctoral-Level Programs | 100% |
Compare alternatives
Similar PA programs to review next
A serious shortlist should compare this profile against nearby programs with the same broad degree path, then weigh cost, commute, fieldwork, and outcomes.
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA. Campus-based. 100% passed in the latest matched NBCOT source year.
Open profile OT DoctorateDuquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA. 25-49% distance. 100% passed in the latest matched NBCOT source year.
Open profile OT DoctorateElizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA. 1-24% distance. 100% passed in the latest matched NBCOT source year.
Open profile OT DoctorateMisericordia University
Dallas, PA. 25-49% distance. 100% passed in the latest matched NBCOT source year.
Open profile
University of Pittsburgh is an outcome-led shortlist choice: its 99.2% NBCOT average across 5 years, with no year below 98%, shows unusual consistency. Its #112 placement in overall OT programs confirms that the strength is comparative, not just a good-looking percentage. This is fundamentally a campus-based choice, not an online-friendly one.