Art Center College of Design
- Graduation Rate
- 81% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $71,958 A
- Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $48,661 F
- 184% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 75% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 11.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $11.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,957,688.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 76% more than the national college median.
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A 81% graduation rate — 41% above the national average.
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Social mobility rate of 4.57% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $11.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Art Center College of Design Matters
Art Center College of Design is a private university in Pasadena, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,017
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Art Center College of Design
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 75% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $48,661 a year after grants and scholarships — 184% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $71,958 ten years after enrolling — 76% above the typical college, against $31,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 4.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 3% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Art Center College of Design has an impressive graduation rate of 81%. This statistic highlights the school's commitment to helping students complete their degrees, which is vital for future job prospects and overall success.
The earnings potential for graduates is notable, with a 10-year earnings average of $71,958. This figure indicates that students who complete their education at Art Center can expect to see a strong return on their investment. However, with a median debt of $31,000, students should weigh the cost against potential earnings carefully.
The net price of attendance stands at $48,661, making it important for students to consider financial aid options. While 22% of students receive Pell Grants, those who thrive here are typically dedicated to their craft in visual and performing arts or computer science and IT. Students who are passionate and driven will likely find a supportive environment to develop their skills and achieve their career goals.
Can I Get In?
How selective Art Center College of Design is — and how your numbers stack up.
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Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Art Center College of Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Pasadena, California, Art Center College of Design admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 75%. The graduation rate is roughly 81%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Retention Rate
- 86%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 19%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,383
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.69
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 1,285
- Admitted
- 912
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Art Center College of Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Art Center College of Design is $54,170, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $48,661. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $39,645 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $31,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $54,170
- Out-of-State
- $54,170
- Avg Net Price
- $48,661
- Median Debt
- $31,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 33%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $39,645
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $42,161
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $44,738
- Family Income $110K+
- $61,144
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Art Center College of Design — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Art Center College of Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Art Center College of Design earn a median of $71,958, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $53,562
- 8 Years
- $58,753
- 10 Years
- $71,958
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.43x
- Earning > $25K
- 65%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (56)
- 33%
- 100% (56)
- 33%
- 100% (56)
- 33%
- 100% (56)
- 33%
How Art Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Art Center College of Design Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Art Center College of Design delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $48,661/year ($194,644 total). Graduates earn $71,958 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,152,332 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,957,688 (11.1× your investment). The median debt is $31,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 81% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $194,644
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,152,332
- Net Return
- $1,957,688
- ROI Multiple
- 11.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $48,661
- Median Debt
- $31,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 81%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Art Center College of Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Art Center College of Design is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 4.57%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 4.57%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 30.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $115,214
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,224,000
- Investment Income
- $-21,366,000
Top Programs
The fields Art Center College of Design awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 50% $60,427 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Art Center College of Design's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
- C+Blockchain Developer$130,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-DevOps Engineer$128,000 · 22% growthAdaptable 52
- CProduct Manager$125,000 · 8% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Art Center College of Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Pasadena, California, Art Center College of Design admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 75%. The graduation rate is roughly 81%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Art Center College of Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Art Center College of Design is $54,170, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $48,661. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $39,645 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $31,000 in federal student loans.
Is Art Center College of Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Art Center College of Design earn a median of $71,958, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Art Center College of Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Art Center College of Design is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 4.57%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Art Center College of Design? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Art Center College of Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Art Center College of Design.
- Emmanuel CollegeBoston, MA · Close peer67% grad $68,245 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Saint Anselm CollegeManchester, NH · Close peer82% grad $73,371 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Salve Regina UniversityNewport, RI · Close peer76% grad $72,975 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of RedlandsRedlands, CA · Close peer69% grad $72,690 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Norton, MA · Close peer74% grad $67,725 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- California Lutheran UniversityThousand Oaks, CA · Close peer72% grad $68,712 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Art Center College of Design? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Art Center College of Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note