Occupational Therapy Degree in Columbia, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Columbia, MD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$64K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$99K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.4 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
127.2
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Columbia, MD Overview
While Columbia has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Occupational Therapy students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $15,096/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Columbia is approximately $63,600, growing to $99,216 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$10,800/yr
Private Tuition
$42,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,096/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,277/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
68%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 127.2 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 1.27x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,800 | Private avg: $42,000
Columbia avg aid: $11,277/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,584
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,080
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
5.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$596,016
Lifetime earnings premium ($699,600) minus total education cost ($103,584)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Occupational Therapy
Columbia State University
public
$10,473/yr
$41,892 total
University of Columbia
public
$12,187/yr
$48,748 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Columbia Community College
$6,406/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby Maryland Cities
Baltimore, MD
$65K starting · COL 130
22 colleges
Silver Spring, MD
$61K starting · COL 122.5
4 colleges
Frederick, MD
$56K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Waldorf, MD
$60K starting · COL 120.7
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$57K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$54K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$64K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$58K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Columbia
Pharmacy
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$64K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$86K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$64K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$64K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$64K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$64K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Columbia — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Occupational Therapy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Columbia.