Best institutions to study 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.
13 U.S. institutions graduated 108 Animal-Assisted Therapy students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2313, a specialization of Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (CIP 51.23), and leads most directly to the Therapists, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 29-1129).
About Animal-Assisted Therapy programs
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.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Animal-Assisted Therapy program prepares students to integrate animals into therapeutic practices, helping individuals with mental and physical disabilities. This program is ideal for those interested in health and human services, focusing on the therapeutic benefits of the human-animal bond.
Students will gain knowledge in psychology, animal behavior, and the integration of animals into therapeutic settings. Coursework may also cover ethical and cultural issues related to animal-assisted therapy.
Credentials awarded
What Animal-Assisted Therapy graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree43 graduates / yr · 4 institutions40%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year26 graduates / yr · 3 institutions24%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate16 graduates / yr · 3 institutions15%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years10 graduates / yr · 1 institution9.3%
- Associate's degree7 graduates / yr · 1 institution6.5%
- Award of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years6 graduates / yr · 1 institution5.6%
Graduates over time
Animal-Assisted Therapy completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 39 |
| 2017 | 30 |
| 2018 | 43 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2020 | 56 |
| 2021 | 82 |
| 2022 | 82 |
| 2023 | 101 |
| 2024 | 88 |
| 2025 | 108 |
Top 13 institutions for Animal-Assisted Therapy, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aurora University Aurora, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 23 | 60% | $18,431 | $41,856 |
| 2 | Husson University Bangor, MEPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 21 | 59% | $18,839 | — |
| 3 | Carroll College Helena, MTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 13 | 69% | $21,440 | $22,319 |
| 4 | Concordia University - Wisconsin Mequon, WIPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 10 | 68% | $24,409 | — |
| 5 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 9 | 66% | — | $41,797 |
| 6 | Hocking College Nelsonville, OHPublicAssociate's | 7 | 37% | — | — |
| 7 | University of North Florida Jacksonville, FLPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 69% | — | — |
| 8 | Saint Francis University Loretto, PAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 2 but less than 4 academic years | 6 | 74% | $15,989 | — |
| 9 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill Cobleskill, NYPublicBachelor's | 4 | 42% | — | — |
| 10 | Isothermal Community College Spindale, NCPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 55% | — | — |
| 11 | Lake Erie College Painesville, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 38% | $21,063 | — |
| 12 | Casper College Casper, WYPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 2 | 43% | — | — |
| 13 | Idaho State University Pocatello, IDPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 39% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions field (CIP 51.23) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 11 states
Where Animal-Assisted Therapy graduates come from. Each state links to all Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 | 23 | Aurora University23 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 21 | Husson University21 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 15 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania9 / yr |
| Montana | 1 | 13 | Carroll College13 / yr |
| Ohio | 2 | 10 | Hocking College7 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 10 | Concordia University - Wisconsin10 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 6 | University of North Florida6 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 4 | SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill4 / yr |
| North Carolina | 1 | 3 | Isothermal Community College3 / yr |
| Wyoming | 1 | 2 | Casper College2 / yr |
| Idaho | 1 | 1 | Idaho State University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1129, Therapists, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers as therapists or health specialties teachers, with an annual growth outlook of 11.5% and approximately 4,100 annual job openings. The median wage for these roles is around $65,010, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2313
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Therapists, All Otherprimary SOC 29-1129 | $77,930 | +11.5% Much faster than average | ~4,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 | $107,310 | +17.3% Much faster than average | ~27,400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Related careers
Other Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions specializations
The 16 other 6-digit CIP codes under Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (CIP 51.23).
- Physical Therapy/CIP 51.2308
Therapist 13,795 graduates / yr277 institutions - Occupational Therapy/CIP 51.2306
Therapist 9,796 graduates / yr250 institutions - Rehabilitation ScienceCIP 51.23141,023 graduates / yr47 institutions
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/CIP 51.2310
Counselor 935 graduates / yr58 institutions - Art Therapy/CIP 51.2301
Therapist 675 graduates / yr62 institutions - Therapeutic Recreation/CIP 51.2309
Recreational Therapy 640 graduates / yr49 institutions - Music Therapy/CIP 51.2305
Therapist 635 graduates / yr70 institutions - Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsCIP 51.2399582 graduates / yr38 institutions
- Orthotist/CIP 51.2307
Prosthetist 302 graduates / yr17 institutions - Kinesiotherapy/CIP 51.2311
Kinesiotherapist partial data96 graduates / yr6 institutions - Play Therapy/CIP 51.2317
Therapist partial data93 graduates / yr6 institutions - Assistive/CIP 51.2312
Augmentative Technology and Rehabilitation Engineering partial data52 graduates / yr8 institutions - Rehabilitation and Therapeutic ProfessionsCIP 51.2300partial data51 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Dance Therapy/CIP 51.2302
Therapist partial data39 graduates / yr5 institutions - Horticulture Therapy/CIP 51.2316
Therapist limited data11 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes 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.
See all Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions programs →
Common questions
What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?+
It is a program that integrates the use of animals into treatment practices for individuals with disabilities.
What degrees are offered in this program?+
Degrees include Bachelor's degrees, certificates, and awards of varying lengths.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a therapist or a health specialties teacher, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 11.5%.
What is the CIP code for Animal-Assisted Therapy?+
Animal-Assisted Therapy is CIP 51.2313 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (CIP 51.23). NCES defines it as: 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.
How many institutions offer Animal-Assisted Therapy programs?+
13 U.S. institutions reported Animal-Assisted Therapy graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 108 credentials in the year. That is 0.4% of all Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions graduates.
How much do Animal-Assisted Therapy graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Therapists, All Other occupation, which Animal-Assisted Therapy most directly leads to, pays a median of $77,930 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions field report median earnings of $41,797 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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