College for Creative Studies
- Graduation Rate
- 70% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,860 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $34,617 F
- 102% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 92% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 9.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $9.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $9.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,183,282.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Inventor rate in the top 4% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
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Every $1 invested returns $9.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 6.2%
- Top 4%
- Patents
- 123
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 319
- Downstream influence
Why College for Creative Studies Matters
College for Creative Studies is a private special-focus institution in Detroit, MI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Special-Focus Institution
- Carnegie Class
- Special Focus
- Enrollment
- 1,230
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Computer Science & IT, Education
Why students choose College for Creative Studies
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
Accessible — admits about 92% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $34,617 a year after grants and scholarships — 102% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,860 ten years after enrolling — 10% above the typical college, against $26,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 72% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.44 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 1,230 students, College for Creative Studies is a solid fit for those looking to dive deep into the arts and technology. The acceptance rate of 92% suggests a welcoming environment for aspiring artists, designers, and educators. Here, students can pursue disciplines like Visual & Performing Arts, Computer Science & IT, and Education, allowing for a blend of creativity and practicality that many find appealing.
After graduation, the average earnings for alumni stand at $44,860 within ten years. This number provides a glimpse into the financial landscape graduates can expect as they enter the workforce. Additionally, with 30% of students receiving Pell Grants, the school demonstrates a commitment to supporting those from lower-income backgrounds, helping to make higher education more accessible.
When it comes to the financials, the net price after aid is about $34,617, and the median debt for graduates is around $26,000. This means that while the cost can be significant, many students manage to thrive here, particularly those who are passionate about their field and willing to invest in their future. The supportive community and focused programs create an environment where creativity can flourish, making it an attractive option for many.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective College for Creative Studies is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into College for Creative Studies? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College for Creative Studies, located in Detroit, Michigan, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 92%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,972
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 23%
- Applicants
- 1,622
- Admitted
- 798
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 College for Creative Studies? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College for Creative Studies is $53,350, 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 $34,617. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $30,267 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $53,350
- Out-of-State
- $53,350
- Avg Net Price
- $34,617
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 52%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $30,267
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $33,152
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $33,647
- Family Income $110K+
- $38,580
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 College for Creative Studies — 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 College for Creative Studies Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College for Creative Studies report median earnings of $44,860, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,691
- 8 Years
- $44,290
- 10 Years
- $44,860
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.58x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (80)
- 34%
- 100% (80)
- 34%
- 100% (80)
- 34%
- 100% (80)
- 34%
How College 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 College for Creative Studies Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, College for Creative Studies delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $34,617/year ($138,468 total). Graduates earn $44,860 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,321,750 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,183,282 (9.5× your investment). The median debt is $26,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 70% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $138,468
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,321,750
- Net Return
- $1,183,282
- ROI Multiple
- 9.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $34,617
- Median Debt
- $26,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
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 College for Creative Studies Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College for Creative Studies is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.07%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.07%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 18.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $133,555
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
College for Creative Studies produces inventors at an exceptional rate — the top 4% of U.S. colleges, with 123 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 6.22%
- Top 4% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 123
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 319
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 16.67%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,197,443
- Investment Income
- $-15,577,274
Top Programs
The fields College for Creative Studies 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 41% $52,040 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8%
- Education 2%
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 College for Creative Studies'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 College for Creative Studies? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
College for Creative Studies, located in Detroit, Michigan, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend College for Creative Studies? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at College for Creative Studies is $53,350, 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 $34,617. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $30,267 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,000 in federal student loans.
Is College for Creative Studies Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of College for Creative Studies report median earnings of $44,860, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does College for Creative Studies Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
College for Creative Studies is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.07%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is College for Creative Studies? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College for Creative Studies. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to College for Creative Studies.
- Maryland Institute College of ArtBaltimore, MD · Close peer72% grad $45,212 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Midway UniversityMidway, KY · Close peer43% grad $44,246 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, MN · Close peer68% grad $50,755 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northwestern CollegeOrange City, IA · Close peer65% grad $49,802 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lesley UniversityCambridge, MA · Close peer60% grad $51,173 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
- Cairn University-LanghorneLanghorne, PA · Close peer62% grad $44,172 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is College for Creative Studies? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College for Creative Studies. Its economic connectedness score is 1.44, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note