by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 65 U.S. colleges awarded 686 degrees and certificates in Art Therapy. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 69% of graduates. College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Art Therapy Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing, rising to $75,072 after four years.
A degree in Art Therapy covers Art Therapy/therapist. A Program That Prepares Individuals, In Consultation With Other Rehabilitation Team Members Or In Private Practice, To Use Drawing And Other Art Media Forms To Assess, Treat, And Rehabilitate Individuals With Mental, Emotional, Developmental, Or Physical Disorders. Includes Instruction In Art, History And Theory Of Art Therapy, Art Therapeutic Techniques, Psychopathology, Patient Assessment And Diagnosis, Cultural Diversity Issues, Legal And Ethical Practice Issues, And Professional Standards And Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., art therapy is a popular field of study, with 686 degrees awarded annually. 65 colleges award art therapy degrees, an average of 11 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 48.
By level, the 686 awards include 22 certificates, 179 bachelor’s degrees, 476 master’s degrees and 9 doctorates.
Women earned 96% of art therapy degrees and certificates in the latest year (660 of 686). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (444) and Hispanic or Latino (86), and international students earned 35.
College Factual ranks 26 schools in its 2027 Best Art Therapy Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees, 20 for master’s degrees and 13 for doctorates. It also ranks art therapy schools within 9 states. In all, 65 colleges offer art therapy programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Art Therapy Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common art therapy credential is the master’s degree: 476 of the 686 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to art therapy call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Psychology, Therapy and Counseling and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an art therapy degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 22 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 179 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 476 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 9 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to art therapy, at 47.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.4% |
| Master’s degree | 31.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 7.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 6.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Art Therapy, with an average median salary of $70,208; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Therapist, Expressive Music Therapist, Certified Music Therapist and Music Rehabilitation Therapist.
The occupation related to art therapy with the most projected jobs is Music Therapists, at 3,083,788.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Music Therapists | 3,083,788 | 4.9% |
| Therapists, All Other | 2,758,134 | -2.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Art Therapists | 715,793 | 1.6% |
Art Therapy graduates earn a median $66,380 one year after completing their program, $75,072 after four years and $74,465 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $66,380 |
| 4 years | $75,072 |
| 5 years | $74,465 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to art therapy is Therapists, All Other, with a median salary of $121,750.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Therapists, All Other | $121,750 |
| Music Therapists | $71,670 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Art Therapists | $40,748 |
Art Therapy has 15 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 28,220 degrees a year; the largest are Physical Therapy/Therapist (13,798), Occupational Therapy/Therapist (9,835) and Rehabilitation Science (1,028). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy/Therapist | 13,798 |
| Occupational Therapy/Therapist | 9,835 |
| Rehabilitation Science | 1,028 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor | 939 |
| Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy | 640 |
| Music Therapy/Therapist | 639 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other | 582 |
| Orthotist/Prosthetist | 302 |
| Animal-Assisted Therapy | 115 |
| Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist | 96 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
