by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Play Therapy explores A Program That Prepares Individuals To Be A Registered Play Therapist (Rpt) Or A School Based-Registered Play Therapist (Sb-Rpt). Includes Instruction In Child Development, Theories Of Personality, Psychotherapy, Child And Adolescent Psychopathology, And Ethics. Read on to learn the key facts every play therapy major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering play therapy programs.
Nationwide, play therapy draws strong interest, with 65 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Play Therapy Schools ranking analyzes these 5 schools to determine the best overall colleges for play therapy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of play therapy programs later in this article.
Programs in Play Therapy build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations play therapy graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a play therapy program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a play therapy major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several play 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 65 |
People currently working in careers related to play 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 play therapy careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in play therapy opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to play therapy.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to play 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of play 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 play therapy graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers play 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 5 different play therapy programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased play therapy school rankings to help you.
Those considering play 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.
