This three-year, full-time, on-site program prepares you to work as an occupational therapist in a range of health care, educational and community-based settings.
The University of Kansas offers the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree as its entry-level program for students seeking a successful career in occupational therapy. Lectures and labs are held on the KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City, Kansas.
Along with coursework, students participate in community-based fieldwork and doctoral experiences at sites throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area, the state of Kansas, and across the country.
Join us to learn about KU's entry-level doctorate program in occupational therapy – our program is consistently ranked among the top in the nation! Sign up and engage with our current students, alumni, faculty and staff as they share insider details and answer your questions.
Sign Up!The cost of an education at the University of Kansas is very competitive with other top programs in the U.S.
Below is an estimate of costs for full-time students finishing the degree program in three years based on the KU comprehensive fee schedule.
These figures are provided as a guide only and are not an official quote of costs. This information is subject to change by the Kansas Board of Regents and the University of Kansas.
See also: requirements for establishing Kansas residency for purposes related to education.
Kansas Resident Student |
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Graduate tuition |
$421.15 / credit hour |
106 credit hours to complete degree |
$44,641.90 |
|
Graduate tuition, online |
$421.55 / credit hour |
6 credit hours (online courses) |
$2,529.30 |
|
OT course fees |
$121.55 / credit hour |
112 credit hours to complete degree |
$13,613.60 |
|
E-Learning course fees |
$100.00 / credit hour |
6 credit hours of curriculum are online |
$600.00 |
|
Campus fees |
$421.77 / semester |
6 semesters |
$2,530.62 |
|
Estimated total tuition and fees for Kansas residents |
$63,915.42 |
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Non-Resident Student |
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|
Graduate tuition |
$989.60 / credit hour |
106 credit hours (on campus courses) |
$104,897.60 |
|
Graduate tuition, online |
$421.55 / credit hour |
6 credit hours (online courses) |
$2,529.30 |
|
OT course fees |
$121.55 / credit hour |
112 credit hours to complete degree |
$13,613.60 |
|
E-Learning course fees |
$100.00 / credit hour |
6 credit hours of curriculum are online |
$600.00 |
|
Campus fees |
$421.77 / semester |
6 semesters |
$2,530.62 |
|
Estimated tuition and fees for residents outside Kansas |
$124,171.12 |
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See more more details related to cost of attendance and financial aid opportunities for students.
KU's entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Only students who have successfully completed the entire program can pursue this certification, which is legally required before employment in the field is possible.
After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
For information on licensing in Kansas, visit the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. For information on specific state licensure requirements, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association.
The first cohort of students in KU's entry-level doctoral program in occupational therapy began classes in August 2019 and will be eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam in 2022 pending ACOTE accreditation approval. Visit the NBCOT website for program results from the NBCOT exam.
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
3-year total |
|
|
Number of students who entered the OTDE program |
42 |
47 |
50 |
43 |
140 |
|
Number of students who graduated from the OTDE program |
41* |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
|
Graduation rate |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
* One student remains in the program due to additional course work required to complete the dual degree program option and is expected to complete the program.
Occupational Therapy Education
KU Medical Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd MS2003
Kansas City, KS 66160
913-588-7195 • 711 TTY