Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance is an estimated calculation of the total educational expenses associated with enrollment in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program at Mary Baldwin University. The information below reflects estimated expenses for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The Cost of Attendance includes both:

• Direct costs – expenses billed directly by the university, including tuition and fees.
• Indirect costs – estimated educational and living expenses students may incur while enrolled, such as housing, food, transportation, books, supplies, and other personal expenses.

The Cost of Attendance is also used to determine the maximum amount of financial aid and student loans a student may be eligible to receive during an academic year. Individual student expenses may vary depending on personal lifestyle choices and living arrangements.

With thoughtful budgeting and planning, many students are able to reduce their indirect expenses and maintain costs below the estimated cost of attendance. Students are encouraged to work closely with Financial Aid and Student Services for individualized support and financial planning resources.

Academic Year 2026-27

These costs apply to the Fall ’26, Spring ’27, and Summer ’27 semesters.

Program Costs by Semester

Direct Costs

	Fall ’26	Spring ’27	Summer ’27
Tuition	$12,600	$12,600	$6,300
Annual program fee*	$500	—	—
Credentialing Fee	$18	$17	$17
Total	$13,117.50	$12,617.50	$6,317.50

MBU’s OTD curriculum consists of 100 credit hours and traditionally spans 33 months (8 semesters).

To be eligible for federal financial aid, students must be enrolled in 4.5 credit hours per semester.

Costs are based on full-time status (9 or more credits per semester). Tuition and fees are set annually and may be subject to change based upon academic year, continuing student status, and loan eligibility, etc.

*The Program Fee attempts to cover required educational and technology resources for students. This fee will reduce the number of resources you are responsible for purchasing out-of-pocket and it can be applied to financial aid costs. For example, the fee covers your electronic textbooks, virtual learning subscriptions, orthotic materials, and lab supplies, etc.

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Indirect Costs

	Semesterly Payments	One-Time Payments
Books and supplies	$550	—
Transportation	$768	—
Health insurance	$525	—
Living	$10,500	—
Loan fees (if federal loans are borrowed)	$72	—
Application fee (OTCAS)	—	$45
Total Estimated Indirect Costs	$12,415/semester	$45

Students should also anticipate additional indirect costs such as books, supplies, travel, housing, and personal items. These expenses are not billed by MBU but are considered when determining financial aid awards. 

Estimates for these expenses are included below but may vary by student and semester:

Living expenses will vary significantly during different phases of the program and according to student preference. During the clinical year, expect an increase in out-of-pocket expenses for travel to and from clinical sites, and, if necessary, local housing. 

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Total Costs

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Additional Information

For accepted students, a nonrefundable $500 deposit fee will be levied and applied to tuition upon matriculation.

All students are required to obtain a background check and drug screen prior to matriculation. Certain clinical sites may require an updated background check and drug screen for the clinical year. MDCHS reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission or dismiss a student based on information received during this process. These steps would be at the student’s expense.

All students are required to carry health insurance for the duration of their program. Students are not required to enroll in the MDCHS student health insurance plan, as long as they provide proof of active/comparable insurance through a hard waiver process. This is separate from any professional liability insurance: MDCHS provides a professional liability policy for all student activities. Students are not required to carry separate liability insurance.