School value profile
Virginia Commonwealth University OT value profile
Review why Virginia Commonwealth University ranks #73 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 #7344.3 value score$16,945 in-state tuition$21,500 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
Virginia Commonwealth University value assessment
Why it stands out
- 63% completion is above the comparison midpoint, which matters because affordability is more compelling when students are also completing at a strong rate.
- Virginia's labor-market score is above the program-set midpoint, giving graduates a stronger local employment backdrop than price alone would suggest.
Tradeoffs that matter
- Published in-state tuition is $6,473 above the comparison midpoint, so this is not one of the genuinely low-price public options.
- Median debt is $549 above the midpoint. That borrowing result directly weakens the return-on-cost case.
- A #73 rank places the institution in the lower half of the public-value comparison; stronger-priced alternatives are readily available in the same dataset.
What to compare next
- Compare Virginia Commonwealth University 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 Virginia'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 higher than the lowest-cost public options in this ranking, so scholarships and a realistic borrowing plan matter more.
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 low enough to undercut the value case: a low price matters less when completion is less dependable.
State opportunity
Virginia has a middle-of-the-pack job market in this model. Compare the strongest metros and common first jobs instead of relying on the statewide average.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Commonwealth University OT doctorate profile | OT doctorate program; ACOTE next on-site review 2035/2036. | Open profile |
Compare value options
Other public OT value profiles
Compare the value score against other public options before narrowing your application list.
Rank #70
Old Dominion University
$12,750 in-state tuition; $24,000 median debt; 46.3 value score.
Open value profile Rank #68Radford University
$12,548 in-state tuition; $24,000 median debt; 47.4 value score.
Open value profile Rank #36James Madison University
$14,250 in-state tuition; $20,093 median debt; 55.4 value score.
Open value profile
Virginia Commonwealth University is a weaker value proposition than most public institutions in this comparison for an in-state applicant. Neither tuition nor debt beats the comparison midpoint, which explains the weaker placement. The 63% completion rate supports the case.