Mizzou Occupational Therapy ranked in top 18 percent by U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News and World Report released occupational therapy graduate program rankings this month, and the University of Missouri jumped 22 spots to No. 36.
This puts Mizzou Occupational Therapy in the top 18 percent of all occupational therapy programs in the country, and makes it the second-highest rated occupational therapy graduate program in Missouri.
“The improvement in rankings are a nice recognition for the program as they reflect the overall strength of our program as rated by our peers,” says Tim Wolf, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy in the MU School of Health Professions. “
Mizzou OT has also worked to add a breadth of program offerings. Over the next two years, the master’s program will convert to a doctorate program, the department will add an entry-level bachelor’s degree for occupational therapy assistants, and the department will be adding a 100% online post-professional doctorate for currently practicing OTs. The department also participates in the PhD in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences program, and will continue to do so.
“Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities. Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.” –The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
The diversity of areas to work in Occupational Therapy keeps expanding. From hospitals to schools, rehab facilities to research, inpatient and outpatient, pediatrics through geriatrics, traveling positions, and more. This diverse range of work environments allows for therapists to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many different individuals at various points of their life.
Occupational Therapy has been consistently ranked high as one of the TOP CAREERS to have. Take a look at a few of those who have been analyzing and reporting on job outlooks for quite some time…
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2019
Occupational Therapist Job Outlook - CNBC, August 2019
The 11 most meaningful college majors and how much they pay: Occupational Therapy tied for No. 5 - U.S. News & World Report, January 2019
The 25 Best Jobs of 2019: Occupational Therapist is No. 13 - Glassdoor, January 2019
50 Best Jobs in America for 2019: Occupational Therapist is No. 4 - U.S. News & World Report, January 2018
Ranking of the 100 Best Jobs for 2018: Occupational Therapist is No. 11
Mizzou Occupational Therapy
- 100% Graduation Rate
- 100% NBCOT Board Certification Pass Rate
- Our graduates have less than 50% of the U.S. average graduate student debt at graduation.
- The median annual salary for an occupational therapist is $84,270 according to the US Department of Labor.
The mission of the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Missouri is to improve the health and well-being of society by assisting people to optimize their participation in everyday life occupations. 
We achieve this mission through the integration of our:
- Professional education of clinically innovative occupational therapists prepared to meet the dynamic occupational needs of people and communities across the lifespan;
- Steadfast commitment to service to our community and our profession;
- Evidence-based practice; and
- Commitment to scholarship, discovery, and clinical research to advance our profession.
