Columbus College of Art & Design
- Graduation Rate
- 59% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,664 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $29,439 F
- 72% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 68% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $10.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,077,063.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $10.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Columbus College of Art & Design Matters
Columbus College of Art & Design is a private special-focus institution in Columbus, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
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
- 882
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Columbus College of Art & 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 68% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $29,439 a year after grants and scholarships — 72% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,664 ten years after enrolling — 0% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 43% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.58 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Columbus College of Art & Design is a great fit for students passionate about the visual and performing arts. With an acceptance rate of 68%, it welcomes a diverse range of creative minds eager to explore fields such as graphic design, photography, and illustration. What stands out here is the intimate environment—enrollment is around 882—allowing for personalized attention and collaboration among peers and faculty.
In terms of outcomes, graduates can expect to earn an average of $40,664 after ten years in the workforce. This figure is important for gauging how well students transition into their careers. While the college has a graduation rate of 59%, many find their footing in creative industries, which can be competitive yet rewarding. Affordability matters too; a significant 39% of students receive Pell Grants, making this an accessible option for those who qualify.
Looking at the financial side, the net price after aid stands at $29,439, and the median debt is $27,000. This means that while there is some financial burden, many students who thrive here are those who are deeply committed to their artistic pursuits and willing to invest in their futures. It’s a place where creativity is valued, and dedicated students can carve out meaningful careers in the arts.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Columbus College of Art & Design 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 Columbus College of Art & Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Columbus, Ohio, Columbus College of Art & Design offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 68%
- Retention Rate
- 80%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 35%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,663
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 25%
- Applicants
- 776
- Admitted
- 706
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 Columbus College of Art & Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbus College of Art & Design is $40,825, 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 $29,439. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,204 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $40,825
- Out-of-State
- $40,825
- Avg Net Price
- $29,439
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 39%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 70%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $24,204
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $27,218
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $27,534
- Family Income $110K+
- $33,114
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Columbus College of Art & Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbus College of Art & Design report median earnings of $40,664, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $30,590
- 8 Years
- $37,503
- 10 Years
- $40,664
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.66x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (131)
- 53%
- 100% (131)
- 53%
- 100% (131)
- 53%
- 100% (131)
- 53%
How Columbus 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 Columbus College of Art & Design Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Columbus College of Art & Design delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,439/year ($117,756 total). Graduates earn $40,664 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,194,819 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,077,063 (10.1× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 59% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $117,756
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,194,819
- Net Return
- $1,077,063
- ROI Multiple
- 10.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $29,439
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
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 Columbus College of Art & Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Columbus College of Art & 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 1.60%, well above the typical college. About 6.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $81,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.60%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 25.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $81,800
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,831,125
- Investment Income
- $-2,723,462
Top Programs
The fields Columbus College of Art & Design awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Columbus College of Art & Design's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C-Art Director$105,180 · 5% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Animator$86,120 · 3% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Fashion Designer$79,600 · 1% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Interior Designer$62,510 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Museum Curator$59,880 · 8% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Graphic Designer$58,910 · 3% growthVulnerable 48
- D+Photographer$40,760 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Columbus College of Art & Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Columbus, Ohio, Columbus College of Art & Design offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 68% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 59%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Columbus College of Art & Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbus College of Art & Design is $40,825, 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 $29,439. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,204 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Columbus College of Art & Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbus College of Art & Design report median earnings of $40,664, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Columbus College of Art & Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Columbus College of Art & 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 1.60%, well above the typical college. About 6.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $81,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Columbus College of Art & 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 Columbus College of Art & Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, 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 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Columbus College of Art & Design.
- Milwaukee Institute of Art & DesignMilwaukee, WI · Close peer65% grad $41,174 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeSaint Mary of the Woods, IN · Close peer49% grad $43,845 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMinneapolis, MN · Close peer59% grad $40,873 earn 48% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cleveland Institute of ArtCleveland, OH · Close peer62% grad $42,509 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Toccoa Falls CollegeToccoa Falls, GA · Close peer45% grad $36,630 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Montreat CollegeMontreat, NC · Close peer45% grad $45,151 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Columbus College of Art & 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 Columbus College of Art & Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.58, 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 14% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note