Music Therapy: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Music Therapy is a specialized field that integrates music-based interventions into clinical and therapeutic settings to support individuals across the lifespan. This program equips students with the expertise to design and deliver evidence-based music experiences that promote healing, enhance well-being, and improve functional outcomes in diverse populations.
- Music Theory and Performance: Develops foundational skills in musical structure, composition, and performance techniques essential for therapeutic application.
- Human Growth and Development: Explores developmental stages across the lifespan, enabling tailored therapeutic strategies for children, adolescents, and adults.
- Biomedical Sciences: Provides insight into physiological systems, neurological functions, and medical conditions influencing health and treatment planning.
- Abnormal Psychology: Examines psychological disorders and behavioral patterns to inform assessment and intervention approaches.
- Disabling Conditions: Focuses on the impact of physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities on daily functioning and quality of life.
- Patient Assessment and Diagnosis: Teaches systematic methods for evaluating client needs and identifying therapeutic goals through clinical observation and standardized tools.
- Treatment Plan Development and Implementation: Guides students in creating individualized, measurable plans and applying music interventions to meet client objectives.
- Clinical Evaluation: Involves ongoing analysis of client progress using qualitative and quantitative methods to adjust therapeutic approaches.
- Record-Keeping: Emphasizes accurate, ethical documentation of sessions, interventions, and outcomes for continuity of care and compliance.
- Professional Standards and Ethics: Establishes a framework for responsible, compassionate, and legally sound practice in clinical and community settings.
Music Therapy Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Music Therapy Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Music Therapy degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary and Therapists, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 249,040 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Therapists, All Other 29-1129 | $65,010 | $38,840 - $120,050 | 19,320 | $31.26 |
Music Therapy Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $48,090 in Hawaii to $135,510 in Washington—a 182% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, District of Columbia, and Arkansas. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 249,040 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Music Therapy by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 66 institutions offering Music Therapy programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Music Therapy is found at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) (44 graduates), Berklee College of Music (31 graduates), Florida State University (FSU) (23 graduates), Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) (22 graduates), and Montclair State University (20 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 651 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
44 | Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana | Private | smwc.edu |
| Berklee College of Music |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | berklee.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
23 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
22 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
20 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Nazareth University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | Rochester, New York | Private | www2.naz.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Molloy College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Rockville Centre, New York | Private | molloy.edu |
| Utah State University (USU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Logan, Utah | Public | usu.edu |
| Georgia College & State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
16 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gcsu.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Master's
|
16 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| Shenandoah University (SU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
16 | Winchester, Virginia | Private | su.edu |
| Augsburg University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | augsburg.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
15 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
14 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| Alverno College |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
13 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | alverno.edu |
| University of the Pacific (UOP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Stockton, California | Private | pacific.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| Immaculata University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
12 | Immaculata, Pennsylvania | Private | immaculata.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Loyola University New Orleans (LOYNO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | loyno.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| Wartburg College |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Waverly, Iowa | Private | wartburg.edu |
| Maryville University of Saint Louis |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | maryville.edu |
| University of Dayton (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
10 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | udayton.edu |
| SUNY |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Fredonia, New York | Public | fredonia.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Mercyhurst University |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | mercyhurst.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
8 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Pacific University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Forest Grove, Oregon | Private | pacificu.edu |
| Belmont University |
Bachelor's
|
8 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | belmont.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Drexel University |
Master's
|
7 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Elizabethtown College |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania | Private | etown.edu |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Public | pfw.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Drury University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Springfield, Missouri | Private | drury.edu |
| Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fgcu.edu |
| University of Indianapolis (UIndy) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | uindy.edu |
| William Carey University (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Hattiesburg, Mississippi | Private | wmcarey.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
5 | New Paltz, New York | Public | newpaltz.edu |
| Charleston Southern University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Charleston, South Carolina | Private | charlestonsouthern.edu |
| Carroll University |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Waukesha, Wisconsin | Private | carrollu.edu |
| University of Evansville (UE) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Evansville, Indiana | Private | evansville.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Master's
|
4 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Queens University of Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Private | queens.edu |
| University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | uiw.edu |
| Oral Roberts University (ORU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | oru.edu |
| Marywood University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Private | marywood.edu |
| Seton Hill University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Private | setonhill.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Biola University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | La Mirada, California | Private | biola.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| Valparaiso University (Valpo) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Valparaiso, Indiana | Private | valpo.edu |
| Baldwin Wallace University (BW) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Berea, Ohio | Private | bw.edu |
| The College of Wooster |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Wooster, Ohio | Private | wooster.edu |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | West Chester, Pennsylvania | Public | wcupa.edu |
| Washington Adventist University (WAU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Takoma Park, Maryland | Private | wau.edu |
| Westfield State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Westfield, Massachusetts | Public | westfield.ma.edu |
| Roberts Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Rochester, New York | Private | roberts.edu |
| Seattle Pacific University (SPU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Seattle, Washington | Private | spu.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Music Therapy programs
How much can I earn with a Music Therapy degree?
Salaries for Music Therapy graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Therapists, All Other earn around $65,010. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $135,510 compared to $48,090 in Hawaii. Approximately 249,040 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Music Therapy programs?
Currently 66 accredited institutions offer Music Therapy degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) (44 graduates), Berklee College of Music (31 graduates), and Florida State University (FSU) (23 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Music Therapy growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 286 in 2010 to a peak of 686 in 2020, before declining slightly to 651 in 2023-24. This represents a 128% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Music Therapy degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Therapists, All Other, . Related occupations employ approximately 249,040 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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