School value profile
University of Wisconsin-Madison OT value profile
Review why University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks #17 in The OT Index public-program value ranking, including institution-level cost, debt, completion, state labor-market context, and matched ACOTE program profiles.
Value rank #1761.5 value score$11,603 in-state tuition$20,484 median debt
Value snapshot
Cost, debt, completion, and career-return context
This profile keeps College Scorecard institution-level measures separate from ACOTE and NBCOT program-specific context so applicants can see what is known and what still needs direct confirmation.
Our take
University of Wisconsin-Madison value assessment
Why it stands out
- $20,484 median debt is $467 below the midpoint, so lower published tuition appears to translate into lower borrowing at the institution level.
- 90% completion is above the comparison midpoint, which matters because affordability is more compelling when students are also completing at a strong rate.
Tradeoffs that matter
- Published in-state tuition is $1,131 above the comparison midpoint, so this is not one of the genuinely low-price public options.
- Wisconsin's labor-market score is below the program-set midpoint. Lower local opportunity reduces the value of choosing the school mainly for geographic convenience.
- The headline price is in-state tuition. An applicant who does not qualify for resident pricing should not expect the #17 value case to carry over unchanged.
What to compare next
- Compare University of Wisconsin-Madison with the two nearest-ranked public options on tuition and debt separately; similar value scores can be driven by different affordability strengths.
- Compare the matched OT doctorate program profile on degree and delivery format before treating the institution-level price advantage as a program-level win.
- Put Wisconsin's labor-market score beside the state where you expect to work after graduation; local value is less relevant when the likely first job is elsewhere.
Applicant read
What makes this school look affordable—or not
The value score is strongest when low cost, manageable debt, institution-wide completion strength, and local labor-market opportunity point in the same direction.
Published tuition
The published in-state tuition is competitive, but program fees and living costs can erase some of that advantage.
Median debt
The institution-wide median debt is moderate, so tuition—not unusually low borrowing—is doing most of the work in the value score.
Completion rate
The institution-wide completion rate is high, which strengthens the value case when tuition and debt are also low.
State opportunity
Wisconsin ranks lower for OT pay and employment in this model, so this program's value depends more heavily on low cost and the applicant's intended setting.
Program profiles
Linked ACOTE program profiles
Open the program-level profiles before treating the institution-level value score as an application decision.
| Program profile | Value context | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Madison OT doctorate profile | OT doctorate program; ACOTE next on-site review 2030/2031. | Open profile |
Compare value options
Other public OT value profiles
Compare the value score against other public options before narrowing your application list.
Rank #57
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
$10,398 in-state tuition; $23,000 median debt; 51.2 value score.
Open value profile Rank #16Worcester State University
$11,786 in-state tuition; $19,500 median debt; 61.6 value score.
Open value profile Rank #18Ohio State University
$13,244 in-state tuition; $19,976 median debt; 60.6 value score.
Open value profile
University of Wisconsin-Madison is a competitive but not exceptional value option for an in-state applicant. The value case is debt-led rather than the result of especially low published tuition. The 90% completion rate supports the case.