by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 70 U.S. colleges awarded 639 degrees and certificates in Music Therapy. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 70% of graduates. College Factual ranks 24 schools in its 2027 Best Music 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 major in Music Therapy explores Music Therapy/therapist. A Program That Prepares Individuals, In Association With A Rehabilitation Team Or In Private Practice, To Use Music In Therapeutic Relationships To Address The Physical, Psychological, Cognitive, Emotional, And Social Needs Of Clients. Includes Instruction In Music Theory And Performance, Human Growth And Development, Biomedical Sciences, Abnormal Psychology, Disabling Conditions, Patient Assessment And Diagnosis, Treatment Plan Development And Implementation, Clinical Evaluation, Record-Keeping, And Professional Standards And Ethics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, music therapy is a popular field of study, with 639 degrees awarded annually. 70 colleges award music therapy degrees, an average of 9 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 37.
By level, the 639 awards include 447 bachelor’s degrees, 189 master’s degrees and 3 doctorates.
Women earned 86% of music therapy degrees and certificates in the latest year (551 of 639). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (438) and Hispanic or Latino (70), and international students earned 28.
College Factual ranks 24 schools in its 2027 Best Music Therapy Schools ranking, including 18 for bachelor’s degrees, 7 for master’s degrees and 11 for doctorates. It also ranks music therapy schools within 17 states. In all, 70 colleges offer music therapy programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Music Therapy Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common music therapy credential is the bachelor’s degree: 447 of the 639 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to music 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 a music therapy degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 447 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 189 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 3 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to music 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 Music 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, Board Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC), Neurologic Music Therapist and Music Therapist.
The occupation related to music 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% |
Music 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 music 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 |
Music Therapy has 15 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 28,267 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 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other | 582 |
| Orthotist/Prosthetist | 302 |
| Animal-Assisted Therapy | 115 |
| Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist | 96 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
