Compare 5 Pre-Art Therapy. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $47,198.
With top graduates earning $52,874, Pre-Art Therapy stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $5K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Benedictine University's Pre-Art Therapy program leads with graduates earning $52,874, well above the $47,198 average across Illinois programs. Aurora University follows at $51,321, while Northern Illinois University rounds out the top three at $47,850—demonstrating that program-specific factors drive outcomes more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Aurora University graduates borrow $20,318 and face just a 9.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, achieving a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.4.
Highest program earnings: $52,874
Strong outcomes with 77% acceptance
9.7% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
20.4% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $52,874 | 88 | $22,500 | Good | $22,900 | Challenging |
| #2 | Aurora UniversityPrivate | $51,321 | 30 | $20,318 | Good | $19,500 | Challenging |
| #3 | $47,850 | 157 | $22,162 | Manageable | $19,508 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Dominican UniversityPrivate | $44,569 | 21 | $24,411 | Manageable | $19,865 | High |
| #5 | Augustana CollegePrivate | $39,377 | 21 | $27,000 | Challenging | $37,219 | 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 →
