by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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. Continue reading for the key facts every music therapy major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering music therapy programs.
Across the country, music therapy is a popular field of study, with 651 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Music Therapy Schools ranking analyzes these 66 schools to determine the best overall colleges for music therapy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of music therapy programs later in this article.
Programs in Music Therapy develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations music therapy graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a music therapy program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a music therapy major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several music 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 455 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 195 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
People currently working in careers related to music 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in music therapy careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying music therapy can lead to many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to music therapy.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to music 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 music therapy graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 music therapy graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers music 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 66 different music therapy programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased music therapy school rankings to help you.
Students interested in music therapy, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
