OTA programs in Michigan

4 OTA (occupational therapy assistant) programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

4 schools offer these occupational therapy assistant programs, and Michigan has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Occupational therapy assistants help occupational therapists treat clients, guiding them through exercises and teaching new ways to manage everyday tasks such as dressing and bathing. Most need an associate degree from an accredited OTA program and usually a state license, which takes the program, fieldwork and a passed exam; passing it also earns the title Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).¹

In Michigan, 2 of the 4 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent and 2 ask for earlier courses first.

All 4 are the same kind of program: OTA (associate degree).

See the 4 programs

How much do OTA programs cost in Michigan?

$11,800 to $31,740

is what the 4 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Michigan may also offer OTA programs. How these figures are made

Are there free OTA programs in Michigan?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.²³⁴For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁴
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁵ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁴
Or pay yourself. These programs cost $11,800 to $31,740.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 4 OTA programs in Michigan approved for WIOA funding

4 programs

OTA (associate degree)In personEducation and courses
Occupational Therapy Assistant AAAS (340)
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Rapids
Accredited school
Education and courses
Grand Rapids Community College, Grand RapidsOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$38,700
Price if you pay yourself$11,800
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant AAAS (340) at Grand Rapids Community College
More details about Occupational Therapy Assistant AAAS (340) at Grand Rapids Community College
Finished
24%
Working at 6 months
90%
Earned in a quarter
$9,686
Length
90 weeks, 20 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,000
Students counted
53
Earned a year, estimated
$38,700
Price if you pay yourself
$11,800
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant AAAS (340) at Grand Rapids Community College
OTA (associate degree)In personPrerequisite courses
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Macomb Community College
Warren
Accredited school
Prerequisite courses
Macomb Community College, WarrenOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses
Earned a year, estimated$36,000
Price if you pay yourself$12,033
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant at Macomb Community College
More details about Occupational Therapy Assistant at Macomb Community College
Finished
82%
Working at 6 months
68%
Earned in a quarter
$9,000
Length
80 weeks, 13 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,540
Students counted
45
Earned a year, estimated
$36,000
Price if you pay yourself
$12,033
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant at Macomb Community College
OTA (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Occupational Therapist Assistant
Mott Community College
Flint
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Mott Community College, FlintOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$22,500
Price if you pay yourself$18,491
Program website, Occupational Therapist Assistant at Mott Community College
More details about Occupational Therapist Assistant at Mott Community College
Finished
81%
Working at 6 months
50%
Earned in a quarter
$5,630
Length
85 weeks, 19 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
39
Earned a year, estimated
$22,500
Price if you pay yourself
$18,491
Program website, Occupational Therapist Assistant at Mott Community College
OTA (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Baker College
Owosso
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Baker College, OwossoOTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$27,600
Price if you pay yourself$31,740
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant at Baker College
More details about Occupational Therapy Assistant at Baker College
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
87%
Earned in a quarter
$6,903
Length
104 weeks, 12 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$3,500
Students counted
26
Earned a year, estimated
$27,600
Price if you pay yourself
$31,740
Program website, Occupational Therapy Assistant at Baker College

How to pay for OTA programs in Michigan

WIOA funding can pay for OTA programs in Michigan

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for OTA programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁶⁷

GI Bill for OTA programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁸

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

OTA programs in Grand Rapids, Detroit, Flint and other Michigan cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Michigan

How OTA programs compare with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in Michigan

Where the Michigan occupational therapy assistant program numbers come from

Which Michigan occupational therapy assistant programs are on this list?

These are the occupational therapy assistant programs Michigan approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁹ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Michigan offers.

How the prices and results of Michigan occupational therapy assistant programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about OTA programs in Michigan

Show the 9 sourcesHide the sources

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