Compare 81 Art Therapy/Therapist. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $53,314. Top programs: $81,320+.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Art Therapy programs tell a different story. Across 81 programs nationally, earnings range from $25,774 to $81,320—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation. The school with the highest-earning art therapy graduates isn't necessarily the school with the highest overall prestige.
Topping the list, Northeastern University's Art Therapy program delivers $81,320 in median graduate earnings—well above the $53,314 national average. The University of Hartford ranks second at $78,761, and a public institution, the University of Pittsburgh, comes in fourth at $75,950. Regional schools competing at the top confirm: program outcomes and school prestige are different measurements entirely.
Worcester State University, a public school, offers the most compelling debt story: graduates carry just $19,500 in student loans with a 5.2% payment burden—firmly 'Excellent' on the GPS affordability scale. For families factoring in parent loans, Worcester State again leads with a 10.5% combined burden, rated 'Good.' Compare that to Duquesne University, where family burden reaches 25.6%—a meaningful difference that sticker price alone would never reveal. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $81,320 | 60 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Manageable |
| #2 | University Of HartfordPrivate | $78,761 | 43 | $27,000 | Excellent | $44,000 | Challenging |
| #3 | Ithaca CollegePrivate | $76,766 | 126 | $24,000 | Excellent | $53,476 | Challenging |
| #4 | $75,950 | 143 | $24,250 | Excellent | $35,031 | Manageable | |
| #5 | $74,386 | 18 | $19,500 | Excellent | $17,518 | Good | |
| #6 | Andrews UniversityPrivate | $73,194 | 12 | $26,000 | Excellent | $27,219 | Manageable |
| #7 | Saint Francis UniversityPrivate | $72,821 | 45 | $27,000 | Excellent | $38,844 | Challenging |
| #8 | $72,625 | 37 | $26,814 | Excellent | $36,545 | Challenging | |
| #9 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $72,566 | 33 | $23,250 | Excellent | $39,000 | Challenging |
| #10 | Duquesne UniversityPrivate | $72,059 | 62 | $26,244 | Excellent | $57,511 | High |
| #11 | Saint Louis UniversityPrivate | $70,351 | 57 | $25,000 | Excellent | $34,177 | Challenging |
| #12 | Keuka CollegePrivate | $70,306 | 52 | $27,000 | Excellent | $29,800 | Manageable |
| #13 | University Of KansasPublic | $70,157 | 11 | — | — | — | — |
| #14 | $70,081 | 55 | $25,000 | Excellent | $18,264 | Manageable | |
| #15 | Springfield CollegePrivate | $69,355 | 85 | $26,250 | Excellent | $30,000 | Manageable |
| #16 | $68,351 | 65 | $26,188 | Excellent | $22,488 | Manageable | |
| #17 | $66,530 | 76 | $22,500 | Excellent | $14,685 | Manageable | |
| #18 | Baker CollegePrivate | $65,981 | 11 | $25,000 | Excellent | $9,540 | Good |
| #19 | $65,037 | 28 | $23,250 | Excellent | $16,000 | Manageable | |
| #20 | $64,784 | 70 | $25,750 | Good | $24,831 | Manageable | |
| #21 | College Of Saint MaryPrivate | $64,401 | 22 | $24,250 | Excellent | $21,389 | Manageable |
| #22 | $63,629 | 9 | $27,000 | Good | $21,595 | Manageable | |
| #23 | $63,061 | 48 | $20,484 | Excellent | $28,364 | Manageable | |
| #24 | D'youville UniversityPrivate | $61,801 | 29 | $25,000 | Good | $25,000 | Challenging |
| #25 | $58,908 | 52 | $22,500 | Good | $16,958 | Manageable |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
