In a lot of cases, a higher education can mean a higher salary or even a better job. That's why we found out the best colleges for certified occupational therapist assistants. We based this list on these metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of students working, ratio of working vs. non-working students 10 years after admission, average cost of attendance and median debt for graduates.
Best Colleges And Majors For Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants
Best Colleges For Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-State Tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA • Private
In-State Tuition
$17,653
Enrollment
16,405
3. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,306
Enrollment
6,975
4. Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$49,042
Enrollment
5,131
5. Kettering College
Kettering, OH • Private
In-State Tuition
$12,960
Enrollment
610
6. University of Maryland - College Park
College Park, MD • Private
In-State Tuition
$10,595
Enrollment
30,184
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
8. University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,730
Enrollment
18,830
9. Clarkson College
Omaha, NE • Private
In-State Tuition
$13,392
Enrollment
646
10. Maria College of Albany
Albany, NY • Private
In-State Tuition
$15,140
Enrollment
876
Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Education Requirements
There are several education requirements to become a certified occupational therapist assistant. Certified occupational therapist assistants usually study occupational therapy, medical assisting services or liberal arts. 81% of certified occupational therapist assistants hold a associate degree and 11% hold a bachelor's degree. We found these by analyzing 852 certified occupational therapist assistant resumes to investigate the topic of certified occupational therapist assistant education more precisely.
The most common colleges for students to pursue their goal of becoming a certified occupational therapist assistant are Keiser University and Pennsylvania State University.
For those who would rather stay in your pajamas during the day, we prepared some online courses that can help in certified occupational therapist assistant education paths.
We prepared a list of a certified occupational therapist assistant certifications that you should consider. The necessary certifications that certified occupational therapist assistants must have to succeed are Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).
What Education Do You Need To Become a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant?
What degree do you need to be a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant?
The most common degree for certified occupational therapist assistants is associate degree 81% of certified occupational therapist assistants earn that degree. A close second is bachelor's degree with 11% and rounding it off is master's degree with 3%.
- Associate, 81%
- Bachelors, 11%
- Masters, 3%
- Diploma, 1%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What Should I Major in to Become a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant?
Most certified occupational therapist assistants, 70% to be exact, major in occupational therapy. Some other common majors for a certified occupational therapist assistant include medical assisting services and liberal arts majors.
- Occupational Therapy, 70%
- Liberal Arts, 3%
- Psychology, 2%
- Other Majors, 16%
Most Common Colleges For Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants
Here are the most common colleges for a certified occupational therapist assistant career in the US based on their resumes. Advocates often get their degree in Keiser University, Pennsylvania State University, and New England Institute of Technology .
| Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Common College | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Keiser University | 32.14% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 7.14% |
| New England Institute of Technology | 5.95% |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | 5.95% |
| Central State University | 3.57% |
Best Majors For Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Occupational Therapy | 70.5% |
| 2 | Medical Assisting Services | 9.2% |
| 3 | Liberal Arts | 2.6% |
| 4 | Psychology | 2.3% |
| 5 | Health Sciences And Services | 2.0% |
20 Best Online Courses for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants
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3. Occupational Therapy Introduction - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
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18. ISO 45001 - Occupational Health & Safety management system
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Top 10 Affordable Universities For Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants
If those top 10 were a bit out of your price range, you might want to check these schools instead. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price and mean earnings after 6 years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for certified occupational therapist assistants.
1. Brigham Young University - Idaho
Rexburg, ID • Private
In-State Tuition
$4,118
Cost of Attendance
12,223
2. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,992
Cost of Attendance
22,430
3. Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,292
Cost of Attendance
20,387
4. University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,283
Cost of Attendance
22,243
5. Trident University International
Cypress, CA • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,240
Cost of Attendance
17,912
6. Louisiana State University at Alexandria
Alexandria, LA • Private
In-State Tuition
$6,668
Cost of Attendance
14,488
7. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Tifton, GA • Private
In-State Tuition
$3,503
Cost of Attendance
12,843
8. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
In-State Tuition
$9,233
Cost of Attendance
18,110
9. Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, LA • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,922
Cost of Attendance
20,612
10. University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM • Private
In-State Tuition
$7,633
Cost of Attendance
19,235
Top 10 Hardest Universities To Get Into For Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants
Some people like a challenge. Well, we challenge you to get into one of these schools. It's not going to be easy. We know this based on these institutions' admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted and mean earnings of students 6 years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
8%
SAT Average
1,508
2. University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions Rate
59%
SAT Average
1,367
3. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
Admissions Rate
58%
SAT Average
1,309
4. Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL • Private
Admissions Rate
68%
SAT Average
1,261
5. University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO • Private
Admissions Rate
64%
SAT Average
1,132
6. Kettering College
Kettering, OH • Private
Admissions Rate
27%
SAT Average
1,125
7. Clarkson College
Omaha, NE • Private
Admissions Rate
41%
SAT Average
1,035
8. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ • Private
Admissions Rate
60%
SAT Average
1,303
9. Saint Joseph's College, New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
1,109
10. Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
79%
SAT Average
1,196
Top 10 Easier To Apply Universities For Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants
Why make getting a job harder on yourself than it has to be? With these colleges, you're sure to be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores and average salary of students 6 years after graduation in order to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into.
1. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions Rate
87%
SAT Average
1,016
2. Clarkson College
Omaha, NE • Private
Admissions Rate
41%
SAT Average
1,035
3. Saint Joseph's College, New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
Admissions Rate
70%
SAT Average
1,109
4. Louisiana College
Pineville, LA • Private
Admissions Rate
78%
SAT Average
1,084
5. Tarleton State University
Stephenville, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
55%
SAT Average
1,056
6. Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Natchitoches, LA • Private
Admissions Rate
82%
SAT Average
1,102
7. St. Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN • Private
Admissions Rate
73%
SAT Average
1,124
8. University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO • Private
Admissions Rate
64%
SAT Average
1,132
9. Midwestern State University
Wichita Falls, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
71%
SAT Average
1,033
10. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions Rate
88%
SAT Average
1,044
Average Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary by Education Level
Certified occupational therapist assistants with a Associate degree earn more than those without, at $57,855 annually. With a Bachelors degree, certified occupational therapist assistants earn a median annual income of $55,578.
| Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Education Level | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $55,578 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $57,855 |