Rehabilitation Science: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Rehabilitation Science is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding human function, disability, and the processes that restore or enhance physical, cognitive, and social well-being. This program integrates insights from health sciences, psychology, engineering, and social sciences to develop evidence-based strategies for improving quality of life across diverse populations.
- Psychological, Social, and Cultural Aspects of Disability and Rehabilitation: Explores how individual and societal factors influence experiences of disability, access to care, and rehabilitation outcomes.
- Sensory and Motor Function and Dysfunction: Examines the neural and physiological mechanisms underlying movement, sensation, and coordination, with a focus on identifying and addressing impairments.
- Biomechanics and Kinesiology: Applies principles of physics and anatomy to analyze human movement and optimize functional performance in clinical and real-world settings.
- Assistive Technology: Investigates the design, application, and evaluation of devices and systems that support independence and participation for individuals with disabilities.
- Rehabilitation Instrumentation and Methodology: Focuses on assessment tools, measurement techniques, and intervention protocols used to evaluate progress and guide treatment planning.
- Statistics and Research Methods: Develops analytical skills for interpreting data, conducting studies, and applying findings to improve rehabilitation practices and policies.
- Health and Rehabilitation Policy: Analyzes the structure, impact, and evolution of public and institutional policies that shape access to care, funding, and service delivery.
Rehabilitation Science Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Rehabilitation Science Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Rehabilitation Science degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Life Scientists, All Other and Rehabilitation Counselors. 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 325,970 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 |
| Life Scientists, All Other 19-1099 | $87,800 | $52,360 - $168,860 | 7,320 | $42.21 |
| Rehabilitation Counselors 21-1015 | $46,110 | $34,480 - $77,200 | 88,930 | $22.17 |
Rehabilitation Science Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $50,400 in Oklahoma to $133,500 in District of Columbia—a 165% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Arkansas, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 325,970 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 Rehabilitation Science by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 48 institutions offering Rehabilitation Science 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 Rehabilitation Science is found at University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus (169 graduates), Concordia University-Wisconsin (CUW) (131 graduates), The University of Texas (UTEP), El Paso (95 graduates), University of North Texas (UNT) (75 graduates), and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) (57 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,107 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
169 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (CUW) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
131 | Mequon, Wisconsin | Private | cuw.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
|
95 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
|
75 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
|
57 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Chicago, Illinois | Public | uic.edu |
| Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) |
Bachelor's
|
43 | University Center, Michigan | Public | svsu.edu |
| University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | uiw.edu |
| East Tennessee State University (ETSU) |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Johnson City, Tennessee | Public | etsu.edu |
| Assumption University |
Bachelor's
|
37 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | assumption.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
37 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWO) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Oshkosh, Wisconsin | Public | uwosh.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Post-Master's
|
19 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Middle Georgia State University (MGA) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Macon, Georgia | Public | mga.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Master's
|
15 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Minot State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Minot, North Dakota | Public | minotstateu.edu |
| Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Public | sfasu.edu |
| University of Maine (UMF) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Farmington, Maine | Public | umf.maine.edu |
| Merrimack College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | North Andover, Massachusetts | Private | merrimack.edu |
| Concordia University (CUAA) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Private | cuaa.edu |
| University of North Dakota (UND) |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Grand Forks, North Dakota | Public | und.edu |
| MGH Institute of Health Professions (MGH IHP) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | mghihp.edu |
| Lasell University |
Master's
|
6 | Newton, Massachusetts | Private | lasell.edu |
| University of Oklahoma (OUHSC) |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
6 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | ouhsc.edu |
| Marshall University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Western New Mexico University (WNMU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Silver City, New Mexico | Public | wnmu.edu |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Denver, Colorado | Public | ucdenver.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
4 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Marquette University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | marquette.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Bradford, Pennsylvania | Public | upb.pitt.edu |
| East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Marshall, Texas | Private | etbu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Drexel University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| University of Vermont (UVM) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Burlington, Vermont | Public | uvm.edu |
| University of California (UCSF) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | San Francisco, California | Public | ucsf.edu |
| Loma Linda University (LLU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Loma Linda, California | Private | llu.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Rehabilitation Science programs
How much can I earn with a Rehabilitation Science degree?
Salaries for Rehabilitation Science graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Life Scientists, All Other earn around $87,800. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $133,500 compared to $50,400 in Oklahoma. Approximately 325,970 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 Rehabilitation Science programs?
Currently 48 accredited institutions offer Rehabilitation Science degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus (169 graduates), Concordia University-Wisconsin (CUW) (131 graduates), and The University of Texas (UTEP), El Paso (95 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 Rehabilitation Science growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 199 in 2010 to a peak of 1,225 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,107 in 2023-24. This represents a 456% 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 Rehabilitation Science degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Life Scientists, All Other, and Rehabilitation Counselors. Related occupations employ approximately 325,970 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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