Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024
Art therapy is a fast-growing field that requires a master’s degree for entry-level roles.
Art therapy can be a helpful treatment to improve a patient’s emotional expression, self-esteem, and self-awareness. As the industry grows, more patients are understanding that art therapy isn’t just a treatment applicable to children, but to people of all ages and backgrounds.
If the idea of using art to help others heal or better themselves interests you, a career in art therapy may be right for you.
Featured Online Art Therapy Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Top Art Therapy Graduate Programs
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$54,766
- Out-of-state$54,766
- In-State$36,234
- Out-of-state$36,234
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate83%
- Students Enrolled23,216
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment50%
- AccreditationYes
Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis
- Indianapolis, IN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$8,972
- Out-of-state$31,410
- In-State$9,366
- Out-of-state$25,872
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate83%
- Students Enrolled25,979
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
Mount Mary University
- Milwaukee, WI
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$32,080
- Out-of-state$32,080
- In-State$16,882
- Out-of-state$16,882
- Retention Rate68%
- Acceptance Rate62%
- Students Enrolled1,273
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment49%
- AccreditationYes
Cedar Crest College
- Allentown, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$41,991
- Out-of-state$41,991
- In-State$14,479
- Out-of-state$14,479
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate69%
- Students Enrolled1,440
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment55%
- AccreditationYes
Lesley University
- Cambridge, MA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$29,200
- Out-of-state$29,200
- In-State$18,900
- Out-of-state$18,900
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate87%
- Students Enrolled4,010
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment27%
- AccreditationYes
New York University
- New York, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$53,770
- Out-of-state$53,770
- In-State$35,982
- Out-of-state$35,982
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate13%
- Students Enrolled58,226
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment45%
- AccreditationYes
Nazareth College
- Rochester, NY
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$35,890
- Out-of-state$35,890
- In-State$18,270
- Out-of-state$18,270
- Retention Rate80%
- Acceptance Rate86%
- Students Enrolled2,639
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment27%
- AccreditationYes
Notre Dame of Maryland University
- Baltimore, MD
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$38,295
- Out-of-state$38,295
- In-State$13,321
- Out-of-state$13,321
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate65%
- Students Enrolled2,184
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment77%
- AccreditationYes
Marywood University
- Scranton, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$35,534
- Out-of-state$35,534
- In-State$9,888
- Out-of-state$9,888
- Retention Rate83%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled2,606
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
Caldwell University
- Caldwell, NJ
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$34,900
- Out-of-state$34,900
- In-State$15,354
- Out-of-state$15,354
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled2,098
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment28%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
What Is the Cost of an Art Therapy Master’s Degree?
The cost of an art therapy degree depends on three main factors:
- Type of institution (public vs. nonprofit vs. for-profit)
- Method of learning (on-campus vs. online vs. hybrid)
- Location (in-state vs. out-of-state)
Art therapy graduate programs at private, nonprofit institutions tend to cost more than those at public colleges and universities. Master’s degrees from for-profit institutions, meanwhile, tend to cost the least.
Master’s Degree Total Cost by School Type, 2023
Private, For-Profit
$51,060
Public
$59,440
Private, Nonprofit
$85,400
Across the board, master’s degree programs cost between $50,000-$85,000 for two years, on average.
Online master’s degree programs are 30% cheaper, on average, than in-person or hybrid programs.
How to Become an Art Therapist
Step 1 | Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Earning a bachelor’s degree is the first step in your educational journey to becoming an art therapist. While your undergraduate degree doesn’t have to be in art therapy, pursuing a bachelor’s in a related field is helpful.
Step 2 | Earn a Master’s Degree
A master’s degree is required for all entry-level jobs in art therapy. It’s at this stage that art therapy courses teach you the ins and outs of being an art therapist.
Graduate students must complete 100 hours of supervised practicum, as well as 600 hours of supervised art therapy clinical internships. Practicums can be done alongside your graduate studies.
Step 3 | Earn Your Credential, License
To earn your art therapy certification, you’ll need to pass the Art Therapy Credentials Board Examination (ATCBE).
Individual states may also require you to become licensed to practice in that state. According to the American Art Therapy Association, 11 states and the District of Columbia require a professional art therapy license. Another eight states require some other license to practice.
Art Therapy Job Overview
Art therapists help people with emotional or mental health conditions, but unlike traditional therapists, they do so through artistic expression.
In a typical art therapy session patients create art, sometimes as a group, no matter their expertise or experience as an artist. The art therapist then examines the patient’s art and discusses it with them. That discussion may center on the feelings and memories the art elicits, giving the client the chance to explore emotions in a nontraditional way.
Art therapists can work in a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Private practices
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Community clinics
- Crisis centers
- Senior communities
Art Therapist Salaries
According to Payscale data, on average, art therapists earn just under $50,000 annually.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not specifically collect data on art therapists. However, the “therapists, all other” classification, earned a median salary of $63,650 per year as of May 2023. That’s lower than the median annual salary for therapists broadly, which was $90,400.
Frequently Asked Questions About Art Therapy Master’s Programs
You must earn a master’s degree, at a minimum, to become an art therapist.
There do not appear to be certificate programs for aspiring art therapists. The need for hundreds of hours of practicum experience is a likely barrier.
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