by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 13 U.S. colleges awarded 115 degrees and certificates in Animal-Assisted Therapy. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 43% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Animal-Assisted Therapy 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.
A degree in Animal-Assisted Therapy involves the study of Animal-Assisted Therapy. A Program That Prepares Health And Human Service Professionals To Integrate The Use Of Animals Into Their Treatment Practices In Order To Facilitate Change In People With Mental And Physical Disabilities. Includes Instruction In Psychology, Psychology Of Disabilities, Animal Behavior, Animal Training, The Human-Animal Bond, Integration Of Animals Into Therapeutic Settings, And Ethical And Cultural Issues. Examples: [Equine-Assisted Therapy].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., animal-assisted therapy is a widely-pursued major, with 115 degrees awarded annually. 13 colleges award animal-assisted therapy degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 29.
By level, the 115 awards include 16 certificates, 7 associate degrees, 50 bachelor’s degrees and 42 master’s degrees.
Women earned 94% of animal-assisted therapy degrees and certificates in the latest year (108 of 115). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (92) and Hispanic or Latino (9), and international students earned 1.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Animal-Assisted Therapy Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks animal-assisted therapy schools within 2 states. In all, 13 colleges offer animal-assisted therapy programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Animal-Assisted Therapy Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common animal-assisted therapy credential is the bachelor’s degree: 50 of the 115 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to animal-assisted therapy 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.
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How long an animal-assisted therapy degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 16 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 7 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 50 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 42 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to animal-assisted therapy, at 47.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.4% |
| Master’s degree | 31.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Animal-Assisted Therapy, with an average median salary of $70,208; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Therapist, Music Art Therapist, Certified Music Therapist and Music Therapy Specialist.
The occupation related to animal-assisted therapy 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% |
Animal-Assisted Therapy 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 animal-assisted therapy is Therapists, All Other, with a median salary of $121,750.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Therapists, All Other | $121,750 |
| Music Therapists | $71,670 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Art Therapists | $40,748 |
Animal-Assisted Therapy has 15 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 28,791 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Therapy/Therapist (13,798), Occupational Therapy/Therapist (9,835) and Rehabilitation Science (1,028). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy/Therapist | 13,798 |
| Occupational Therapy/Therapist | 9,835 |
| Rehabilitation Science | 1,028 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor | 939 |
| Art Therapy/Therapist | 686 |
| Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy | 640 |
| Music Therapy/Therapist | 639 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other | 582 |
| Orthotist/Prosthetist | 302 |
| Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist | 96 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
