Bachelor’s to Doctorate (BS to OTD)
in Occupational Therapy
Cost of Attendance

The University of Southern California is a private institution where tuition is the same for all students. Residents of California, residents of other states, and international students all have the same tuition rate. Estimated 2025-2026 tuition and fees are presented below. Tuition and fees are subject to change and are expected to be the same or slightly higher for 2026-2027.

Year/Semester	# of Units	Estimated Tuition	USC Fees	Addl. Expenses
1/Fall and Spring	12-18 each semester	$73,260	$2,292	$23,977
2/Fall and Spring	12-18 each semester	$73,260	$1,842	$23,977
3/Fall and Spring	12-18 each semester	$73,260	$1,842	$23,977
4/Fall and Spring	14-18 each semester	$65,032	$2,092	$23,977
5/Summer	14-18 each semester	$32,516	$312	$9,748*
5/Fall and Spring	14-18 each semester	$68,276	$1,794	$19,496*
5/Summer (Fieldwork)	2	$4,708	$312	$9,748*
6/Fall and Spring (includes part-time Fieldwork)	6-10 each semester	$30,728	$1,794	$19,496*
6/Summer (Doctoral Capstone Experience)	3	$7,062	$312	$9,748*
TOTAL	173-241	$428,102	$12,556	$164,144
Total Cost of Tuition and Fees is $440,658

USC Undergraduate Fees include: one-time $450 orientation fee, one-time $250 lab fee for OT 516 (taken during year 4), Student health service fee ($700/semester, summer $312), Student programming fee ($64/semester during undergraduate year, $40 during graduate year), Norman H. Topping Student Aid Fund ($11/semester), Transportation fee ($146/semester). 

Additional Expenses: The USC Financial Aid Office estimates annual undergraduate student costs of $12,879 for housing; $8,028 for dining/meals; $650 for books and supplies; $2,006 for personal and miscellaneous; and $414 for transportation ($23,977 per year). The USC Financial Aid Office estimates annual graduate and doctoral student costs of $14,400 for housing; $8,028 for dining/meals; $1,200 for books and supplies; $2,754 for personal and miscellaneous; and $2,862 for transportation ($29,244 per year; *annual amount amortized in above table).

Cost of Licensure
If you are planning to work in the United States, please note that the costs and requirements for licensure to practice as an occupational therapist vary across states. Check with your state’s occupational therapy board for additional information. Also, consider that NBCOT study material expenses will vary by person. One of our student ambassadors outlined their personal costs and experience with licensure in California. Please review additional information from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) regarding licensure.

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USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is in Accreditation–Inactive status by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org.

Professional program graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.