by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 544 U.S. colleges awarded 28,906 degrees and certificates in Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 420 schools in its 2027 Best Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing, rising to $75,072 after four years.
If you are interested in helping people heal using both medical and therapeutic methods, consider a career in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. These professionals work to improve the physical, emotion, or mental well-being of their patients.
Students in this major learn how to use art forms to help with emotional stress or mental disorders, recreational activities to improve physical and emotional health, exercises to decrease pain, and other skills to help patients improve their overall well-being. Classes in health, psychology, social work, therapy, anatomy and physiology, and health and aging will provide students with the skills to work closely with others and aid them with any necessary rehabilitation or therapy.
Possible concentrations you may choose from are Art, Dance, or Music Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Animal-Assisted Therapy, and more.
Studying Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions covers Rehabilitation And Therapeutic Professions.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., rehabilitation & therapeutic professions is a popular field of study, with 28,906 degrees awarded annually. 544 colleges award rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degrees, an average of 53 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 1,409.
By level, the 28,906 awards include 83 certificates, 165 associate degrees, 3,226 bachelor’s degrees, 7,920 master’s degrees and 17,511 doctorates.
Women earned 76% of rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degrees and certificates in the latest year (21,951 of 28,906). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (18,060) and Hispanic or Latino (3,314), and international students earned 567.
College Factual ranks 420 schools in its 2027 Best Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees, 90 for bachelor’s degrees, 202 for master’s degrees and 283 for doctorates. It also ranks rehabilitation & therapeutic professions schools within 49 states. In all, 544 colleges offer rehabilitation & therapeutic professions programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common rehabilitation & therapeutic professions credential is the doctorate: 17,511 of the 28,906 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to rehabilitation & therapeutic professions 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.
Professionals must listen to their patients to understand what they want and need to overcome obstacles. This means professionals should have excellent listening skills along with compassion for those dealing with pain or stress. Communication and interpersonal skills will allow you to work closely with patients and other health professionals to ensure you are doing all you can to help your patient. Students interested in this field will also often work with individuals with special needs.
A career in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions is often a full time position. Professionals work in a variety of locations from offices to recreation centers to physical therapy gyms. Although professionals hold normal work hours, some people work nights or weekends to accommodate their patients' schedules.
Most Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions professionals must earn at least a master's degree along with certification so they may practice. Some professionals decide to pursue their doctorate so they may open their own practice.
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How long a rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 83 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 165 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,226 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7,920 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 17,511 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to rehabilitation & therapeutic professions, at 38.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 38.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
22 occupations are related to Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions, with an average median salary of $91,851; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Therapist, Kinesiotherapist, Music Rehabilitation Therapist and Activity Therapist.
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions graduates work at a variety of locations from hospitals, physicians' offices, and nursing homes to psychiatric wards, community facilities, and rehabilitation centers. Graduates work with both children and adults and use a mixture of activities and arts forms to help improve patients' health.
The occupation related to rehabilitation & therapeutic professions with the most projected jobs is Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, at 3,154,112.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | 3,154,112 | -1.5% |
| Music Therapists | 3,083,788 | 4.9% |
| Orthotists and Prosthetists | 3,021,997 | 2.9% |
| Therapists, All Other | 2,758,134 | -2.9% |
| Recreational Therapists | 2,577,436 | 3.7% |
| Physical Therapists | 2,383,893 | 8.0% |
| Occupational Therapists | 2,344,296 | -4.2% |
| Exercise Physiologists | 1,771,772 | 1.7% |
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing their program, $75,072 after four years and $74,465 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $66,380 |
| 4 years | $75,072 |
| 5 years | $74,465 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to rehabilitation & therapeutic professions is Recreational Therapists, with a median salary of $150,116.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreational Therapists | $150,116 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $144,072 |
| Physical Therapists | $144,047 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | $124,839 |
| Therapists, All Other | $121,750 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions includes 16 concentrations that together award 28,906 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Physical Therapy/Therapist (13,798), Occupational Therapy/Therapist (9,835) and Rehabilitation Science (1,028). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,008,554 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.
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