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2026 Best Value Animal-Assisted Therapy Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the animal-assisted therapy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Animal-Assisted Therapy Schools
Leading the list is Aurora University, our #1 best value for animal-assisted therapy in the United States. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,170. Animal-Assisted Therapy graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Early-career animal-assisted therapy graduates make about $41,856. Set against $23,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a great value for students pursuing a degree in animal-assisted therapy, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for animal-assisted therapy graduates is $27,000. Early-career animal-assisted therapy graduates make about $41,797. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Carroll College earned it the #3 place for animal-assisted therapy. Carroll College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Helena. In-state tuition and fees average $41,484. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the animal-assisted therapy program here. Animal-Assisted Therapy graduates of Carroll College earn a median of $22,319 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Concordia University Wisconsin earned it the #4 place for animal-assisted therapy. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,470 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,875 to complete the animal-assisted therapy program here. Animal-Assisted Therapy graduates of Concordia University Wisconsin earn a median of $72,716 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Other Animal-Assisted Therapy Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Animal-Assisted Therapy rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
ADBLOCK #116
[Animal-Assisted Therapy](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/animal-assisted-therapy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
