Cost of Attendance for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Graduate students are billed for a maximum of 9 hours each semester. Your tuition and fees are based on 9 hours, although students in our program generally take closer to 18 hours a semester. The current number of hours per semester is listed below. Students in our program currently pay a tuition differential of $66.00 per credit hour. Online courses are an additional $56.00 per credit hour. (Current OTD Hours) Therefore, specific tuition and fees will vary by semester.
Based on Fall 2026 rates, the following are the estimated costs of attendance for the full 8 semesters of the OTD program:
- In state: $58,627.82
- Out of State: $92,843.82
- Regional Tuition discount: $84,455.82
A semester-by-semester breakdown is included below.
The estimated total cost over the eight-semester program for required books only is $2,855.82. The estimated cost for required and recommended books is $3,008.16. Many texts books will be used in multiple semesters across the 3-year curriculum. The fall semester ofr the first year will be the most expensive.
Health Insurance is required. Students may use their personal health insurance or purchase a plan from the university. The minimum annual cost for the current academic year if purchased through the university is $2928.00. The cost of health insurance is not factored into the above estimated costs of attendance.
Housing costs (including travel expenses for field work placements) are not factored into the above estimated costs of attendance. The university does not offer dedicated graduate housing. Housing and transportation costs will vary based on the individual’s housing preferences and field work placements. The following are estimates based on a survey of current OTD students in the fall of 2026:
Per Bedroom (House or room in apartment):
● Average Cost: $789
● Range: $650-$1033
● Utilities (Divided by Roommates): $98
● Utilities Range: $50-150
Per Apartment/Unit:
● Average Cost: $1263
● Range: $850-$1500
● Utilities: Average: $171
● Range of Utilities: $80-$300
Estimated Costs of Attendance
In-state Tuition Estimated Cost of Attendance
| SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 | SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 | SEMESTER 5 | SEMESTER 6 | SEMESTER 7 | SEMESTER 8 | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREDIT HOURS | 18 hours | 18 hours | 15 hours | 18 hours | 15 hours | 9 hours | 12 hours | 12 hours | 117 hours |
| TUITION & FEES | 5,896.00 | 5,896.00 | 5,896.00 | 5,896.00 | 5,896.00 | 5,896.00 | 5,896.00 | 5,896.00 | 47,168.00 |
| TUITION DIFFERENTIAL/ONLINE COURSE FEES | 1,188.00 | 1,188.00 | 990 | 1,188.00 | 1,214.00 | 594 | 960 | 792 | 8,114.00 |
| REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS | 964.93 | 524.19 | 746.13 | 257.83 | 218.45 | 0 | 144.29 | 0 | 2,855.82 |
| PARKING | 272 | 0 | 0 | 218 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 490 |
| TOTAL | 8,320.93 | 7,608.19 | 7,632.13 | 7,559.83 | 7,328.45 | 6,490.00 | 7,000.29 | 6,688.00 | 58,627.82 |
Out of State Tuition Estimated Cost of Attendance
| SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 | SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 | SEMESTER 5 | SEMESTER 6 | SEMESTER 7 | SEMESTER 8 | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREDIT HOURS | 18 hours | 18 hours | 15 hours | 18 hours | 15 hours | 9 hours | 12 hours | 12 hours | 117 hours |
| TUITION & FEES | 10,173.00 | 10,173.00 | 10,173.00 | 10,173.00 | 10,173.00 | 10,173.00 | 10,173.00 | 10,173.00 | 81,384.00 |
| TUITION DIFFERENTIAL/ONLINE COURSE FEES | 1,188.00 | 1,188.00 | 990 | 1,188.00 | 1,214.00 | 594 | 960 | 792 | 8,114.00 |
| REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS | 964.93 | 524.19 | 746.13 | 257.83 | 218.45 | 0 | 144.29 | 0 | 2,855.82 |
| PARKING | 272 | 0 | 0 | 218 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 490 |
| TOTAL | 12,597.93 | 11,885.19 | 11,909.13 | 11,836.83 | 11,605.45 | 10,767.00 | 11,277.29 | 10,965.00 | 92,843.82 |
Regional Tuition Estimated Cost of Attendance
Regional Tuition
| | SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 | SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 | SEMESTER 5 | SEMESTER 6 | SEMESTER 7 | SEMESTER 8 | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREDIT HOURS | 18 hours | 18 hours | 15 hours | 18 hours | 15 hours | 9 hours | 12 hours | 12 hours | 117 hours |
| TUITION | 7,799.50 | 7,799.50 | 7,799.50 | 7,799.50 | 7,799.50 | 7,799.50 | 7,799.50 | 7,799.50 | 62,396.00 |
| TUITION DIFFERENTIAL/ONLINE COURSE FEES | 1,152.00 | 1,152.00 | 960 | 1,152.00 | 1,184.00 | 576 | 960 | 768 | 7,904.00 |
| REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS | 805.74 | 731.02 | 576.78 | 112.44 | 286.93 | 0 | 140.06 | 0 | 2,652.97 |
| PARKING | 262 | 0 | 0 | 211 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 473 |
| TOTAL | 10,019.24 | 9,682.52 | 9,336.28 | 9,274.94 | 9,270.43 | 8,375.50 | 8,899.56 | 8,567.50 | 73,425.97 |
- Tuition and Fees are subject to change.
- According to FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), cost of attendance is defined as total amount of attending the program, which includes tuition and fees, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees as well as fees associated with distance education.
- A total estimated cost of attendance for graduate students is also available.
Tuition and Fees
By using the link to Tuition and Fee Information, the cost per semester may be calculated for the current semester. Be sure to select your residency status and scroll down to the graduate level status as well as the correct academic year. In addition, as noted, the OTD program charges a $66.00 per credit hour differential fee. Therefore, the total amount paid per semester depends on the number of credit hours taken. Information on the current semester fees, including parking is also available.
Please note that it is difficult to establish residency for tuition purposes in Tennessee if you are not already a resident. Non-residents should make all decisions based on out of state tuition. Residents of specific Georgia and Alabama counties may qualify for regional tuition rates. Residents of specific southern states may qualify for in-state tuition through the Academic Common Market. For more information, click the links below.
Regional Tuition
Regional tuition credit applies to students who are residents of Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Murray, Walker and Whitfield counties in Georgia and Jackson County in Alabama. The Application for Regional Tuition Differential Rate form must be submitted for every semester of enrollment in order to maintain regional tuition differential rate.
Academic Common Market
The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition-savings program for college students in 15 SREB (Southern Regional Education Board) states who want to pursue degrees not offered by their home state institutions. Students can enroll in out-of-state institutions that offer their degree program and pay the institution’s in-state tuition rates. Residents of six participating states may be eligible for in-state tuition for the OTD. Pursuing approval is the applicant's responsibility.
Scholarships
The Occupational Therapy Department offers a limited number of scholarships to admitted Occupational Therapy Doctorate students. Scholarship applications are distributed annually to currently enrolled students during the fall semester. Awards are announced within the fall semester and can be applied to fall or spring semester tuition for the respective academic year.
Current scholarships provided within the Occupational Therapy Department as listed below. Please note that scholarship opportunities and amounts are subject to change and may vary each year.
Center for Spots Medicine and Orthopedics Scholarship
Encompass Health Endowed Scholarship
Occupational Therapy Department Scholarship
Siskin Rehabilitation Hospital Scholarship
Siskin Children’s Institute Scholarship
Textbooks
The cost of books will vary by semester. As many books are utilized over multiple semesters, the first year of the program will be the most expensive. An estimated total cost of required books for the program is noted above.
To determine the required texts and cost for a course, you may enter the course numbers in the Find Course Materials tool on the UTC Bookstore website.
Parking Permits
Parking permits are optional and are included in the tables above. For additional information and associated costs, please click the link above.
Please note that this information is based on the 2026-2027 academic year tuition and fees. Tuition rates may change, and the number of credit hours in a semester are subject to change in an upcoming academic year. All fees are subject to any changes approved by the Board of Trustees prior to the beginning of a term.