Pursuing a doctoral degree in occupational therapy is both rewarding and a significant investment. Graduate health care programs often require students to take on loans, with the American Occupational Therapy Association reporting that the median debt for OT graduates exceeds $100,000.
That's why occupational therapy scholarships and grants are a powerful lever. They reduce tuition costs, lessen student debt and open doors for more students to enter the profession.
Two partners of Evidence In Motion (EIM), Hanover College and Bowling Green State University (BGSU), are stepping forward with new OTD scholarship opportunities that support future occupational therapists.
Their approaches highlight how scholarships can function as both student support and enrollment strategy.
Hanover College Occupational Therapy Scholarships
Beginning in spring 2026, Hanover College will offer a range of scholarships for its OTD program.
These awards are open to students who have already submitted a seat deposit, those currently in the admissions process and even applicants who withdrew after depositing. They include:
- Merit-Based OT Scholarships
- $10,000 for students with an unweighted GPA of 3.75 or higher
- $5,000 for students with an unweighted GPA between 3.5 and 3.74
- OTA Scholarships and Alumni Support
- $2,500 for licensed occupational therapy assistants (OTA scholarships)
- $5,000 for graduates of Hanover College pursuing the OTD program
By recognizing academic performance, professional experience and alumni connections, Hanover is providing multiple pathways to make OT school more affordable.
BGSU Occupational Therapy Scholarships
BGSU offers the Lara Sanders Miller Scholarship in Occupational Therapy, a $1,000 award for incoming or continuing OTD students.
This scholarship prioritizes financial need while also rewarding academic excellence and professional background.
- First preference goes to students with a final undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Second preference goes to applicants with prior work experience as occupational therapy assistants.
The scholarship application is distributed internally each year by the program, making it an accessible option for students already enrolled.
What Scholarships Mean for Occupational Therapy Programs
Scholarships are not only student support. They are enrollment strategy.
Programs that package targeted awards see stronger applicant pools, higher deposit conversion, and better persistence, as those with cost barriers are most likely to drop early in the cycle.
Scholarships aren’t just financial aid — they can be used to influence the makeup of the class. By setting criteria (like GPA, prior OTA experience, or being an alum), programs can:
- Attract stronger students academically
- Give credit to applicants with real-world experience
- Build loyalty by rewarding alumni
When awards are visible and easy to apply for, prospective students perceive the program as accessible. That can improve yield in competitive markets and reduce melt after deposit.
In addition, scholarships can guide prospective students into high-need settings. The result is better workforce alignment and a clearer return on investment for your institution.
Takeaways: Action Steps for OT Programs
Use scholarships as a strategic lever to shape your cohort, boost yield and meet workforce needs. Start with these quick moves, then track results and refine each cycle.
Key takeaways:
- Set goals. Define targets for applicant volume, yield, diversity and first-year persistence.
- Design smart. Use tiered awards at admit and deposit to influence decisions.
- Be visible. Publish criteria, ranges and timelines. Open applications early.
- Align impact. Tie at least one award to high-need practice areas.
- Measure and refine. Track funnel and persistence by award type.
Hanover and BGSU are strong examples of targeted scholarships turning intent into enrollment and meeting workforce needs. Build on that model, measure results and keep affordability central.