by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 20 U.S. colleges awarded 613 degrees and certificates in Movement & Mind-Body Therapies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Movement & Mind-Body Therapies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $26,390 one year after completing, rising to $40,392 after four years.
Movement and Mind-Body Therapies majors learn the skills to teach relaxation classes, yoga, provide hypnotherapy, and other services that improve the overall well-being of others.
With classes in anatomy, physiology, psychology, herbalism, and other alternative medical techniques, students are able to help patients reduce pain and increase health. Professionals have the skills to work closely with others and increase therapeutic communication and balance between the mind and body.
Popular concentrations within this major are Movement Therapy and Movement Education, Yoga Teacher Training, and Hypnotherapy.
A major in Movement & Mind-Body Therapies explores Movement And Mind-Body Therapies And Education.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, movement & mind-body therapies draws strong interest, with 613 degrees awarded annually. 20 colleges award movement & mind-body therapies degrees, an average of 31 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 428.
By level, the 613 awards include 9 certificates, 112 associate degrees, 58 bachelor’s degrees, 416 master’s degrees and 7 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of movement & mind-body therapies degrees and certificates in the latest year (485 of 613). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (351) and Hispanic or Latino (72), and international students earned 6.
College Factual ranks 8 schools in its 2027 Best Movement & Mind-Body Therapies Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks movement & mind-body therapies schools within 1 state. In all, 20 colleges offer movement & mind-body therapies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Movement & Mind-Body Therapies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common movement & mind-body therapies credential is the master’s degree: 416 of the 613 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to movement & mind-body therapies call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Psychology, Therapy and Counseling and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Students who major in Movement and Mind-Body Therapies have strong interpersonal and communication skills. They work closely with patients and must facilitate open and honest therapeutic communication so they can resolve tension and increase positivity. Students should also have good customer service skills and trustworthiness so patients are comfortable and are able to relax.
A degree in this field can lead to either a full time or part time job in a variety of locations. Some professionals work in medical offices while others find jobs at health clinics, spas, or gyms teaching movement classes or providing relaxation services.
While some areas of Movement and Mind-body Therapies require a bachelor's degree, others, such as yoga, only require an associate's degree or certification. If you are interested in this career field, you should research the position and ensure you are obtaining the ideal education.
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How long a movement & mind-body therapies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 9 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 112 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 58 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 416 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 7 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to movement & mind-body therapies, at 47.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.1% |
| Master’s degree | 31.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Movement & Mind-Body Therapies, with an average median salary of $67,054; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Therapist, Hospice Music Therapist, Music Art Therapist and Creative Arts Music Therapist.
Movement and Mind-Body graduates work in gyms, health clinics, spas, alternative medical offices, and other locations that require the services of yoga instructors, hypnotherapists, and other professional mind-body therapists. This field is growing at an average rate, providing job opportunities to students after graduation.
The occupation related to movement & mind-body therapies with the most projected jobs is Music Therapists, at 3,083,788.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Music Therapists | 3,083,788 | 4.9% |
| Therapists, All Other | 2,758,134 | -2.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Art Therapists | 715,793 | 1.6% |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | 35,993 | -1.5% |
Movement & Mind-Body Therapies graduates earn a median $26,390 one year after completing their program, $40,392 after four years and $33,461 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $26,390 |
| 4 years | $40,392 |
| 5 years | $33,461 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to movement & mind-body therapies is Therapists, All Other, with a median salary of $121,750.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Therapists, All Other | $121,750 |
| Music Therapists | $71,670 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $54,441 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Art Therapists | $40,748 |
Movement & Mind-Body Therapies includes 4 concentrations that together award 613 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Hypnotherapy/Hypnotherapist (435), Yoga Teacher Training/Yoga Therapy (88) and Movement Therapy and Movement Education (77). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,036,847 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Hypnotherapy/Hypnotherapist | 435 |
| Yoga Teacher Training/Yoga Therapy | 88 |
| Movement Therapy and Movement Education | 77 |
| Movement and Mind-Body Therapies and Education, Other | 13 |
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