School value profile
Western Michigan University OT value profile
Review why Western Michigan University ranks #76 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 #7639.9 value score$15,252 in-state tuition$26,188 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
Western Michigan University value assessment
Why it stands out
- 58% 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 $4,780 above the comparison midpoint, so this is not one of the genuinely low-price public options.
- Median debt is $5,237 above the midpoint. That borrowing result directly weakens the return-on-cost case.
- Michigan's labor-market score is below the program-set midpoint. Lower local opportunity reduces the value of choosing the school mainly for geographic convenience.
What to compare next
- Compare Western Michigan 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 Michigan'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 high enough to weaken the affordability case even if the published tuition looks competitive.
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
Michigan 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Western Michigan University OT doctorate profile | OT doctorate program; ACOTE next on-site review 2029/2030. | Open profile |
Compare value options
Other public OT value profiles
Compare the value score against other public options before narrowing your application list.
Rank #75
Saginaw Valley State University
$12,930 in-state tuition; $25,000 median debt; 43.3 value score.
Open value profile Rank #74Grand Valley State University
$15,140 in-state tuition; $24,500 median debt; 44.1 value score.
Open value profile Rank #80University of Michigan-Flint
$14,704 in-state tuition; $25,000 median debt; 37.5 value score.
Open value profile
Western Michigan 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 58% completion rate supports the case.