Editorial selection · reviewed 3 November 2026
Best Entry-Level OTD Programs
An unranked editorial selection of entry-level OTD programs, chosen from verified listings where official pages document the accreditation record and the fieldwork structure. Not a league table.
Unranked: within each group the order is alphabetical. This is not a league table, no numerical scores are given, and no school paid to be included. Selected for documented educational strengths, not because a listing has more published data.
Alabama
Faulkner University: Doctor of Occupational Therapy
University · Montgomery, Alabama
Entry-level OTDoctor of Occupational TherapyACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2031/2032 (Last on-site: 2024/2025)). Published fieldwork structure: 24 weeks of full-time clinical experiences; 14-week capstone. Published structure: 8 program semesters, 110 credits. Published outcome: NBCOT exam pass rate, 100% (7 of 7 eligible testers; 2025 graduating cohort 1) (2025 Cohort 1; 7 testers).
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
University of South Alabama: Occupational Therapy Doctorate
University · Mobile, Alabama
Entry-level OTOccupational Therapy Doctorate degree (OTD)ACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2032/2033 (Last on-site: 2025/2026)). Published fieldwork structure: All Level II fieldwork must be completed within 12 months following completion of academic requirements.; 14-week capstone. Published structure: Eight consecutive semesters, 114 semester credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
Arkansas
Arkansas State University-Jonesboro: Doctor of Occupational Therapy
University · Jonesboro, Arkansas
Entry-level OTDoctor of Occupational TherapyACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2034/2035 (Last on-site: 2024/2025)). Published fieldwork structure: Two Level II fieldworks, each 12 weeks long, full time at fieldwork sites.; 14-week capstone. Published structure: 9 semesters, 105 semester credits. Published outcome: graduation rate, 100% (2020 entering / 2023 graduating; 29 entered, 29 graduated).
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
University of Central Arkansas: Doctor of Occupational Therapy
University · Conway, Arkansas
Entry-level OTDoctor of Occupational TherapyACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2026/2027 (Last on-site: 2019/2020)). Published fieldwork structure: Full time placement at two different fieldwork sites across a 6 month period; 14-week capstone. Published structure: 36 months, 115 credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
California
California State University, Dominguez Hills: Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
University · Carson, California
Entry-level OTOccupational Therapy DoctorateACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2031/2032; Last on-site: 2024/2025). Published fieldwork structure: 2 semesters of clinical rotations (Fieldwork II): 3 months each. Published structure: 9 consecutive semesters (including summer), 120 semester credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
Dominican University of California: Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
University · San Rafael, California
Entry-level OTOccupational Therapy DoctorateACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2032/2033; Last on-site: 2025/2026). Published fieldwork structure: 24 full-time equivalent weeks of Level II fieldwork; 14-week capstone. Published structure: nine-semester; 36 months, 100 semester credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
Colorado
Colorado State University: Occupational Therapy Doctorate
University · Fort Collins, Colorado
Entry-level OTDoctor of Occupational TherapyACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Last on-site: 2024/2025; Next on-site: 2031/2032). Published fieldwork structure: 14-week capstone. Published structure: three-year program.
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
Connecticut
Quinnipiac University: Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Occupational Therapy
University · Hamden, Connecticut
Entry-level OTDoctor of Occupational TherapyACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Last on-site: 2022/2023; Next on-site: 2029/2030). Published fieldwork structure: two 12-week full-time fieldwork experiences; 14-week capstone. Published structure: 3 full-time years including summer sessions, 101 credits. Published outcome: NBCOT exam pass rate, 100% (2025 graduates; not stated).
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
Washington, DC
Howard University: Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy
University · Washington, Washington, DC
Entry-level OTDoctor of Occupational TherapyACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Last on-site: 2023/2024; Next on-site: 2030/2031). Published fieldwork structure: 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork; 14-week capstone. Published structure: three years, 96 credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
Florida
Nova Southeastern University: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.)
University · Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Entry-level OTDoctor of Occupational TherapyACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2031/2032). Published fieldwork structure: 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork plus an individual 14-week capstone experience.; 14-week capstone. Published structure: three-year program: 114 credit hours total, 114 semester credits.
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
Hawaii
Hawai‘i Pacific University: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Honolulu)
University · Honolulu, Hawaii
Entry-level OTDoctor of Occupational TherapyACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Last on-site: 2031/2032; Next on-site:). Published fieldwork structure: two 12-week Level II fieldwork experiences during year two; 14-week capstone. Published structure: 24 months.
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
Illinois
University of Illinois Chicago: Entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate
University · Chicago, Illinois
Entry-level OTEntry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (E-OTD)ACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2031/2032). Published fieldwork structure: 14-week capstone. Published structure: Two years, nine months, full-time, 110 credits. Published outcome: graduation rate, 95% (2025 graduating class (first cohort); 40 entering, 1 withdrew for reasons other than academic performance, 37 graduating).
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
Indiana
Hanover College: Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
College · Hanover, Indiana
Entry-level OTDoctor of Occupational TherapyACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2031/2032). Published fieldwork structure: 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork; 14-week capstone. Published structure: Two-year hybrid, accelerated program.
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.
University of Indianapolis: Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
University · Indianapolis, Indiana
Entry-level OTOccupational Therapy DoctorateACOTE: AccreditationTuition not published
Why it is here: ACOTE directory status: Accreditation (Next on-site: 2033/2034). Published fieldwork structure: 24 weeks of full-time fieldwork plus 14 weeks of doctoral capstone.; 14-week capstone. Published structure: 3 years (including summers), 101 credits. Published outcome: NBCOT exam pass rate, 100% (2025 calendar year; 34 passed).
Limitations: Only facts printed on official pages are used; faculty quality, student outcomes beyond the published figures shown, and employer relationships are not assessed.