Elizabethtown College’s distinguished Occupational Therapy program has garnered recognition on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Graduate Schools list, ranking 95th (tie) out of 292 programs across the country and eighth in Pennsylvania.
“It is an honor to be recognized for our exceptional Occupational Therapy programs and the three distinctive degree pathways that we offer students,” Elizabethtown College Dean of the School of Sciences and Health Alan Utter said. “Our OT faculty acknowledge the significance of the institution’s successful 50-year program, and the strong relationships formed with our students and community/clinical partners, which are founded in holistic perspectives.”
Receiving accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy in 1976, making it the second oldest OT program in Pennsylvania, Etown will be celebrating its 50th anniversary during the 2025-26 academic year. The storied program includes courses taught by faculty with a wealth of real-world experience, including specialty clinical practice across all ages and in various settings.
To determine a program’s inclusion on the list, U.S. News & World Report compiled rankings based on surveys of academic leaders at peer institutions. Respondents rated peer programs on a 1-5 scale of academic quality, and rankings were determined by the average of ratings each program received.
Through Etown’s distinctive Occupational Therapy program, students can start and finish their educational journey at Etown by graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and earning a five-year, entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) degree or a six-year, entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) from the College.
Unlike many peer institutions, Etown offers a combined undergraduate/graduate academic program in Occupational Therapy that does not require students to reapply for either graduate degree program. Over 95% of seniors enroll in and complete either a master’s or doctoral degree at Etown, while 96% of students pass their certification exams in their first year.
The College also launched an online Post Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PP-OTD) in 2021 through its School of Graduate and Professional Studies. The program is designed for licensed occupational therapists seeking to earn a doctorate and allows candidates to design their own degree, selecting from two of eight concentrations across a variety of in-demand disciplines.
Occupational Therapy is a profession that helps to improve the well-being and functions of people with developmental delays and physical and psychological challenges. Discover more.