Best colleges for Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions by graduate earnings are Saginaw Valley State University ($59,937), CUNY York College ($57,806) and D'Youville University ($50,473), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Saginaw Valley State University (University Center, MI): $59,937, 95 graduates a year
- CUNY York College (Jamaica, NY): $57,806, 35 graduates a year
- D'Youville University (Buffalo, NY): $50,473, 58 graduates a year
- Eastern Washington University (Cheney, WA): $47,541, 71 graduates a year
- University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT): $43,684, 131 graduates a year
Compare 541 U.S. colleges offering Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 51 states.
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,966 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 51.23 and the Physical Therapists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions programs
The Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions program prepares students for careers in various health-related fields focused on improving the quality of life for individuals through therapeutic interventions. This program is ideal for those interested in helping others regain their physical abilities and overall well-being through specialized therapies and rehabilitation techniques.
Learn more about Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions →
Students in this program will acquire essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and active listening, alongside knowledge in therapy, counseling, and psychology. Coursework typically covers the principles of physical treatment, patient assessment, and the development of individualized treatment plans.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saginaw Valley State University University Center, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $59,937 | 95 | 48% | — | $18,500 |
| 2 | CUNY York College Jamaica, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,806 | 35 | 32% | — | — |
| 3 | D'Youville University Buffalo, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $50,473 | 58 | 67% | $18,846 | $26,250 |
| 4 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $47,541 | 71 | 43% | — | $25,326 |
| 5 | University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,684 | 131 | 65% | — | — |
| 6 | Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $43,631 | 150 | 67% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Aurora University Aurora, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,856 | 36 | 60% | $18,431 | $23,750 |
| 8 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,797 | 141 | 66% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-La Crosse La Crosse, WI Public · Bachelor's degree | $41,370 | 99 | 71% | — | $21,374 |
| 10 | Temple University Philadelphia, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,085 | 148 | 75% | — | $27,000 |
| 11 | University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pittsburgh, PA Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,836 | 464 | 85% | — | $25,474 |
| 12 | Nazareth University Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,739 | 97 | 73% | $27,945 | $27,000 |
| 13 | Utica University Utica, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,478 | 86 | 56% | $20,237 | $27,000 |
| 14 | University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,366 | 29 | 71% | — | $21,500 |
| 15 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,008 | 64 | 59% | — | $27,000 |
| 16 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $38,339 | 249 | 49% | — | — |
| 17 | Assumption University Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,094 | 34 | 75% | $24,206 | $27,000 |
| 18 | Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,608 | 65 | 60% | — | $24,000 |
| 19 | University of Toledo Toledo, OH Public · Bachelor's degree | $37,554 | 61 | 57% | — | $24,875 |
| 20 | CUNY Lehman College Bronx, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,811 | 27 | 51% | — | $7,404 |
| 21 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,705 | 177 | 89% | $21,956 | $27,000 |
| 22 | Berklee College of Music Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,349 | 27 | 67% | $46,197 | $23,750 |
| 23 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,007 | 94 | 61% | — | $25,370 |
| 24 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,605 | 32 | 65% | — | $26,750 |
| 25 | Indiana Wesleyan University - Marion Marion, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,418 | 35 | 67% | $21,351 | $25,606 |
Top 6 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH Public · Graduate degree | $67,054 | 110 | 64% | — | $20,231 |
| 2 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $46,768 | 189 | 69% | $26,034 | $35,437 |
| 3 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Saint Mary of the Woods, IN Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $35,301 | 58 | 47% | $43,857 | $30,915 |
| 4 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN Public · Certificate | $31,108 | 120 | 54% | — | $22,937 |
| 5 | NHTI-Concord's Community College Concord, NH Public · Associate degree Small program | $42,459 | 11 | 29% | — | $14,751 |
| 6 | Community College of Baltimore County Baltimore, MD Public · Associate degree Small program | $40,075 | 11 | 19% | — | — |
Specializations within Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
16 of the 17 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 51.23 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Physical Therapy/CIP 51.2308
Therapist 13,795 graduates / yr277 institutions50 states - Occupational Therapy/CIP 51.2306
Therapist 9,796 graduates / yr250 institutions49 states - Rehabilitation ScienceCIP 51.23141,023 graduates / yr47 institutions26 states
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/CIP 51.2310
Counselor 935 graduates / yr58 institutions32 states - Art Therapy/CIP 51.2301
Therapist 675 graduates / yr62 institutions26 states - Therapeutic Recreation/CIP 51.2309
Recreational Therapy 640 graduates / yr49 institutions26 states - Music Therapy/CIP 51.2305
Therapist 635 graduates / yr70 institutions29 states - Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsCIP 51.2399582 graduates / yr38 institutions21 states
- Orthotist/CIP 51.2307
Prosthetist 302 graduates / yr17 institutions12 states - Animal-Assisted TherapyCIP 51.2313108 graduates / yr13 institutions11 states
- Kinesiotherapy/CIP 51.2311
Kinesiotherapist partial data96 graduates / yr6 institutions5 states - Play Therapy/CIP 51.2317
Therapist New in CIP 2020partial data93 graduates / yr6 institutions5 states - Assistive/CIP 51.2312
Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering partial data52 graduates / yr8 institutions8 states - Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsCIP 51.2300New in CIP 2020partial data51 graduates / yr6 institutions6 states
- Dance Therapy/CIP 51.2302
Therapist partial data39 graduates / yr5 institutions4 states - Horticulture Therapy/CIP 51.2316
Therapist New in CIP 2020limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions1 states
Show all 17 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Drama Therapy/
Therapist51.2315
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 51 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1123, Physical Therapists, and its national outlook.
Graduates can pursue careers in fields such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and music therapy, among others. The job outlook for these professions is much faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 10.9% and approximately 13,200 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is around $101,020, generally requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 51.23.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 51.23 (Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions) maps to 11 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 17-2199 | Engineers, All Other |
| 19-1099 | Life Scientists, All Other |
| 21-1015 | Rehabilitation Counselors |
| 25-1071 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 29-1122 | Occupational Therapists |
| 29-1123 | Physical Therapistsprimary |
| 29-1125 | Recreational Therapists |
| 29-1128 | Exercise Physiologists |
| 29-1129 | Therapists, All Other |
| 29-2091 | Orthotists and Prosthetists |
| 51-9082 | Medical Appliance Technicians |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Art Therapy, Dance Therapy, Music Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Orthotics/Prosthetics, Physical Therapy, and Therapeutic Recreation.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, monitoring, and effective communication.
What is the typical education requirement for careers in this field?+
Most careers in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions require a doctoral or professional degree.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a projected growth rate of 10.9% and about 13,200 annual job openings.
How much do Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions graduates earn?+
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $35,966, College Scorecard (2019); the Physical Therapists occupation pays about $105,280 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions?+
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions maps to CIP 51.23 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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