by our College Data Analytics TeamArt Therapy was the 465th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 858 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 143 over the prior year, a growth of 16.7%.
Our 2023 Best Art Therapy Schools ranking analyzes 58 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for art therapy/therapist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of art therapy programs later in this article.
Art Therapy majors are found most commonly in careers in which understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents is important. Talking to others to convey information effectively and teaching others how to do something are all required skills for careers related to this major.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most art therapy degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. Once you obtain your degree, additional art therapy certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
There are various different levels of art therapy degrees. Art Therapy programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest art therapy degree you can get. Art Therapy programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to art therapy, with approximately 35.9% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to art therapy tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 35.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 24.9% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 19.1% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 12.5% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 4.6% |
About 80.0% of workers in careers related to art therapy obtain at least master's degrees. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in art therapy/therapist careers have.
This of course varies depending on which art therapy career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your art therapy degree? Art Therapy careers are expected to grow 25.3% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to art therapy/therapist.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | 294,000 | 25.9% |
| Therapists | 28,900 | 19.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for art therapy graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for art therapy/therapist graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers art therapy grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Professors | $122,320 |
| Therapists | $57,680 |
With over 112 different art therapy degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased art therapy school rankings to help you with this.
Art Therapy is one of 15 different types of Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy/Therapist | 13,655 |
| Occupational Therapy | 9,958 |
| Rehabilitation Science | 1,161 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling | 1,046 |
| Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy | 870 |
Image Credit: By Barbara E. Carver under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
