2026 Best Value Art Therapy/Therapist Schools
[Art Therapy/Therapist](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/art-therapy-therapist/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 81 schools to find the best return on investment for art therapy/therapist students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Art Therapy/Therapist School for You
Where you study art therapy/therapist affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Art Therapy/Therapist Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Art Therapy/Therapist Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
See how we build our rankings
2026 Best Value Art Therapy/Therapist Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the art therapy/therapist degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Art Therapy/Therapist Schools
Leading the list is Capital Community College, our #1 best value for art therapy/therapist in the United States. Set in the city of New Britain, Capital Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,338, while out-of-state students pay about $15,596. Art Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $12,059 in student loans. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $43,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in art therapy/therapist will find it at Florida State University, which ranked #2. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $20,488. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $43,422. Set against $20,488 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #3 place for art therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $22,937. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in art therapy/therapist, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Art Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $55,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia College And State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value art therapy/therapist schools. Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Milledgeville. Students from in state pay about $9,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $24,412. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Georgia College And State University earn a median of $51,197 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,412 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Indianapolis placed #6 among the best values for art therapy/therapist. University Of Indianapolis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $37,200. Students borrow a median of $26,699 to complete the art therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, art therapy/therapist degree recipients from University Of Indianapolis generally make around $70,588. That is a strong return on a $26,699 median debt. University Of Indianapolis admits about 66% of applicants.
Emporia State University placed #7 among the best values for art therapy/therapist. Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Emporia. Students from in state pay about $7,106 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,419 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete the art therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, art therapy/therapist degree recipients from Emporia State University generally make around $47,919. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Mount Mary College placed #8 among the best values for art therapy/therapist. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Mount Mary College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,420. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $27,000. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Mount Mary College earn a median of $68,344 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Prescott College came in at #9 for value in art therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,490. Art Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,230 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art therapy/therapist degree recipients from Prescott College generally make around $42,966. Set against $27,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Prescott College admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value art therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $23,530. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $70,824. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Cedar Crest College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value art therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Allentown, Cedar Crest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $46,314 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $30,759. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $67,662. Set against $30,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Marywood University came in at #12 for value in art therapy/therapist this year. Set in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,420 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $26,996. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Marywood University earn a median of $36,791 early in their careers. Set against $26,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value art therapy/therapist schools. Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marion. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,352. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $25,606. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $52,449 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,606 median debt. Indiana Wesleyan University admits about 89% of applicants.
Seton Hill University landed the #14 spot for art therapy/therapist value this year. Set in the suburb of Greensburg, Seton Hill University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,944. Art Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $26,556 in student loans. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Seton Hill University earn a median of $42,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,556 median debt. Seton Hill University admits about 80% of applicants.
Long Island University C W Post Campus earned the #15 position for value in art therapy/therapist this year. Located in the suburb of Brookville, Long Island University C W Post Campus is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,432. Art Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $25,211 in student loans. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Long Island University C W Post Campus earn a median of $59,440 early in their careers. Set against $25,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Arcadia University placed #16 among the best values for art therapy/therapist. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. Students from in state pay about $49,610 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $26,921. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Arcadia University earn a median of $78,129 early in their careers. Set against $26,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arcadia University admits about 80% of applicants.
Edgewood College came in at #17 for value in art therapy/therapist this year. Edgewood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $35,860 in tuition and fees. Art Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, art therapy/therapist degree recipients from Edgewood College generally make around $56,578. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Mercyhurst College earned the #18 position for value in art therapy/therapist this year. Located in the city of Erie, Mercyhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,770. Students borrow a median of $25,705 to complete the art therapy/therapist program here. Soon after graduation, art therapy/therapist degree recipients from Mercyhurst College generally make around $46,009. That is a strong return on a $25,705 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Springfield College landed the #19 spot for art therapy/therapist value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,974. Art Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Springfield College earn a median of $73,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Temple University placed #20 among the best values for art therapy/therapist. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $27,000. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $59,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Nazareth College placed #21 among the best values for art therapy/therapist. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Nazareth College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,210. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the art therapy/therapist program here. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Nazareth College earn a median of $52,745 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Nazareth College admits about 75% of applicants.
Lesley University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value art therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,256 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the art therapy/therapist program here. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $28,787. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
New York University placed #23 among the best values for art therapy/therapist. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Art Therapy/therapist graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $74,409. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Hofstra University earned the #24 position for value in art therapy/therapist this year. Set in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,660. Students borrow a median of $24,848 to complete the art therapy/therapist program here. Art Therapy/therapist graduates of Hofstra University earn a median of $58,155 early in their careers. Set against $24,848 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Albertus Magnus College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value art therapy/therapist schools. Set in the city of New Haven, Albertus Magnus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,908. Typical student debt for art therapy/therapist graduates is $36,919. Early-career art therapy/therapist graduates make about $47,928. That is a strong return on a $36,919 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 34 Best Value Art Therapy/Therapist Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s art therapy/therapist value ranking:
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Art Therapy/Therapist is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 81 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
