Quick Highlights:
- Our #1 ranking college for an occupational therapy doctoral program is the University of Utah, followed by the University of Kansas.
- Online doctoral programs in occupational therapy prepare therapists for leadership and managerial roles.
- These programs help therapists develop their own treatments and oversee patient care.
- Graduates often receive significant pay increases.
- Admission requirements typically include licensure and previous experience or degrees.
Occupational therapists will play a key role in the healthcare sphere over the next few decades. The best occupational therapy doctoral programs online are perfect for occupational therapists who want to start their own practices or attain more managerial positions at their current jobs.
Such an advance comes with the skills to develop one’s own treatments and oversee patient care in a more direct, administrative way. Additionally, the pay increase is pretty significant.
If you are interested in earning a doctorate in occupational therapy online, keep reading!
Last updated: October 9, 2025
What are the Best Occupational Therapy Doctoral Programs Online?
We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of CollegeRank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects:
40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni
30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation
30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school
In addition to the above accolades, we also considered the following:
- The school’s ability to provide a quality degree program pursuant to the academic requirements needed for a Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy,
- Taught by qualified experts in the field,
- Prepares graduates for career advancement in the field of Occupational Therapy,
- Offered by a convenient and flexible online learning format.
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University of Utah
The University of Utah is a well-known school offering plenty of stellar programs. The online doctorate program in occupational therapy is a standout, and it’s the best offered by any college in the U.S.
UU requires applicants to have at least two years of prior experience as a licensed occupational therapist. However, this can potentially be waived if the student is a recent graduate and has demonstrated ex