Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Matthew Arrojas
By
Updated on June 13, 2024
Edited by
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Explore the best master’s programs in the U.S. to jumpstart your career in art therapy.

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.

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Top Art Therapy Graduate Programs

#1 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Drexel University

  • Location-markerPhiladelphia, PA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$54,766
  • Out-of-state$54,766
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$36,234
  • Out-of-state$36,234
  • Retention Rate90%
  • Acceptance Rate83%
  • Students Enrolled23,216
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment50%
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis

  • Location-markerIndianapolis, IN
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,972
  • Out-of-state$31,410
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$9,366
  • Out-of-state$25,872
  • Retention Rate71%
  • Acceptance Rate83%
  • Students Enrolled25,979
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment55%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Mount Mary University

  • Location-markerMilwaukee, WI
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$32,080
  • Out-of-state$32,080
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$16,882
  • Out-of-state$16,882
  • Retention Rate68%
  • Acceptance Rate62%
  • Students Enrolled1,273
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment49%
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Cedar Crest College

  • Location-markerAllentown, PA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$41,991
  • Out-of-state$41,991
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$14,479
  • Out-of-state$14,479
  • Retention Rate75%
  • Acceptance Rate69%
  • Students Enrolled1,440
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment55%
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Lesley University

  • Location-markerCambridge, MA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$29,200
  • Out-of-state$29,200
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$18,900
  • Out-of-state$18,900
  • Retention Rate75%
  • Acceptance Rate87%
  • Students Enrolled4,010
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment27%
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

New York University

  • Location-markerNew York, NY
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$53,770
  • Out-of-state$53,770
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$35,982
  • Out-of-state$35,982
  • Retention Rate94%
  • Acceptance Rate13%
  • Students Enrolled58,226
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment45%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Nazareth College

  • Location-markerRochester, NY
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$35,890
  • Out-of-state$35,890
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$18,270
  • Out-of-state$18,270
  • Retention Rate80%
  • Acceptance Rate86%
  • Students Enrolled2,639
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment27%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Notre Dame of Maryland University

  • Location-markerBaltimore, MD
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$38,295
  • Out-of-state$38,295
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$13,321
  • Out-of-state$13,321
  • Retention Rate75%
  • Acceptance Rate65%
  • Students Enrolled2,184
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment77%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Marywood University

  • Location-markerScranton, PA
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$35,534
  • Out-of-state$35,534
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$9,888
  • Out-of-state$9,888
  • Retention Rate83%
  • Acceptance Rate81%
  • Students Enrolled2,606
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment41%
  • AccreditationYes
#10 Best Master’s in Art Therapy Programs of 2024

Caldwell University

  • Location-markerCaldwell, NJ
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$34,900
  • Out-of-state$34,900
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$15,354
  • Out-of-state$15,354
  • Retention Rate74%
  • Acceptance Rate96%
  • Students Enrolled2,098
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment28%
  • AccreditationYes

badge-check 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:

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

Source:BestColleges

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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