by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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]. Read on to learn the essential details every animal-assisted therapy major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering animal-assisted therapy programs.
In the U.S., animal-assisted therapy is a widely-pursued major, with 93 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Animal-Assisted Therapy Schools ranking analyzes these 12 schools to determine the best overall colleges for animal-assisted therapy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of animal-assisted therapy programs later in this article.
Programs in Animal-Assisted Therapy build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations animal-assisted therapy graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a animal-assisted therapy program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a animal-assisted therapy major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several animal-assisted therapy degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 4 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 10 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 43 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 36 |
People currently working in careers related to animal-assisted therapy tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in animal-assisted therapy careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying animal-assisted therapy opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to animal-assisted therapy.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to animal-assisted therapy.
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of animal-assisted therapy graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,332 |
| 4 years | $70,102 |
| 5 years | $75,167 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for animal-assisted therapy graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers animal-assisted therapy grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Therapists, All Other | $121,750 |
| Music Therapists | $71,670 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Art Therapists | $40,748 |
With 12 different animal-assisted therapy programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased animal-assisted therapy school rankings to help you.
Those considering animal-assisted therapy, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy/Therapist | 13,424 |
| Occupational Therapy/Therapist | 10,460 |
| Rehabilitation Science | 1,107 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor | 941 |
| Art Therapy/Therapist | 768 |
| Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy | 722 |
| Music Therapy/Therapist | 651 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other | 621 |
| Orthotist/Prosthetist | 408 |
| Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist | 121 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
