Compare 6 Art Therapy/Therapist. programs in the West. Average earnings: $36,186.
The highest-earning Art Therapy/Therapist program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $24K earnings gap across 6 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Eastern Washington University's Art Therapy/Therapist program leads with graduates earning $47,541. The University of Utah follows at $43,684, while California State University-Los Angeles delivers $41,692. These regional programs demonstrate that specialized healthcare fields reward program quality over institutional prestige.
For students, California State University-Los Angeles offers the strongest value with a 9.3% payment burden and just $13,000 in student debt—a 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can clear their loans with about 4 months of salary. Eastern Washington maintains affordability despite higher debt, with a 10.7% payment burden still rated 'Good'.
Highest program earnings: $47,541
Strong outcomes with 92% acceptance
9.3% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
19.7% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $47,541 | 13 | $19,500 | Good | $17,148 | Challenging | |
| #2 | University Of UtahPublic | $43,684 | 11 | $19,000 | Manageable | $18,886 | High |
| #3 | $41,692 | 85 | $13,000 | Good | $12,526 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $34,345 | 18 | $23,000 | High | $11,141 | High | |
| #5 | Carroll CollegePrivate | $26,353 | 20 | $25,757 | High | $37,513 | High |
| #6 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $23,498 | 33 | $11,069 | High | $9,699 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
