Best institutions to study Dance Therapy/Therapist
A program that prepares individuals, in consultation with other rehabilitation team members or in private practice, to use the therapeutic application of creative dance movement to assist in promoting client rehabilitation and physical, emotional, and mental health.
5 U.S. institutions graduated 39 Dance Therapy/Therapist students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 51.2302, 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 Dance Therapy/Therapist programs
A program that prepares individuals, in consultation with other rehabilitation team members or in private practice, to use the therapeutic application of creative dance movement to assist in promoting client rehabilitation and physical, emotional, and mental health. Includes instruction in neuroanatomy, personality development, movement and motor behavior, psychology, dance, creative expression modalities, improvisation, group psychology and leadership, client evaluation and supervision, dance therapy practice, and professional standards and ethics.
See also: 51.3601 - Movement Therapy and Movement Education.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Dance Therapy/Therapist program prepares individuals to utilize creative dance movement as a therapeutic tool to enhance client rehabilitation and promote overall health. This program is ideal for those interested in combining their passion for dance with a commitment to helping others improve their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Students collaborate with rehabilitation teams or may practice independently.
Core coursework includes instruction in neuroanatomy, personality development, movement and motor behavior, psychology, and creative expression modalities. Students also learn about improvisation, group psychology and leadership, client evaluation, and professional standards and ethics, equipping them with the necessary skills to effectively practice dance therapy.
Credentials awarded
What Dance Therapy/Therapist graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree31 graduates / yr · 3 institutions80%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year8 graduates / yr · 2 institutions21%
Graduates over time
Dance Therapy/Therapist completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 23 |
| 2013 | 55 |
| 2014 | 68 |
| 2015 | 38 |
| 2016 | 37 |
| 2017 | 40 |
| 2018 | 63 |
| 2019 | 37 |
| 2020 | 42 |
| 2021 | 52 |
| 2022 | 39 |
| 2023 | 35 |
| 2024 | 48 |
| 2025 | 39 |
Top 5 institutions for Dance Therapy/Therapist, 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 | Pratt Institute - Main Brooklyn, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 17 | 74% | $49,088 | — |
| 2 | Drexel University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 78% | $36,004 | — |
| 3 | Sarah Lawrence College Bronxville, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 71% | $22,119 | — |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 90% | — | $32,049 |
| 5 | Weber State University Ogden, UTPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 3 | 46% | — | — |
* 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 4 states
Where Dance Therapy/Therapist graduates come from. Each state links to all Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 2 | 22 | Pratt Institute - Main17 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 9 | Drexel University9 / yr |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 5 | University of Wisconsin - Madison5 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 3 | Weber State University3 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 29-1129, Therapists, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Dance Therapy/Therapist program can pursue careers as therapists and health specialties teachers. With an expected job growth rate of 11.5% and approximately 4,100 annual openings, this field offers a promising outlook. The median wage for professionals in this area is around $65,010, typically requiring at least a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 51.2302
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 - Animal-Assisted TherapyCIP 51.2313108 graduates / yr13 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
- 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 degree do I need to become a dance therapist?+
A master's degree in dance therapy is typically required.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will learn about movement behavior, psychology, and therapeutic practices.
What is the job outlook for dance therapists?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with an 11.5% growth rate.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
Currently, there are five colleges offering the Dance Therapy/Therapist program.
What is the CIP code for Dance Therapy/Therapist?+
Dance Therapy/Therapist is CIP 51.2302 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 individuals, in consultation with other rehabilitation team members or in private practice, to use the therapeutic application of creative dance movement to assist in promoting client rehabilitation and physical, emotional, and mental health. Includes instruction in neuroanatomy, personality development, movement and motor behavior, psychology, dance, creative expression modalities, improvisation, group psychology and leadership, client evaluation and supervision, dance therapy practice, and professional standards and ethics.
How many institutions offer Dance Therapy/Therapist programs?+
5 U.S. institutions reported Dance Therapy/Therapist graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 4 states, awarding 39 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions graduates.
How much do Dance Therapy/Therapist graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Therapists, All Other occupation, which Dance Therapy/Therapist 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 $32,049 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.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card