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Laguna College of Art and Design

Private nonprofit Laguna Beach, CA · Rural · Far West · 93% data
A- Diversity B- Earnings C Graduation
Graduation Rate
57% C
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$47,867 B-
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$42,505 F
148% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
94% D
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +17% vs avg
Graduation -1% vs avg
Net Price 148% vs avg

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 10.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $10.2 over 20 years.

10.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $10.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,569,515.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Every $1 invested returns $10.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna College of Art and Design is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

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
746
Setting
Rural
Primary Strengths
Visual & Performing Arts

Why students choose Laguna College of Art and Design

Strength in Visual & Performing Arts
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 63% overall
B-
Earnings
$47,867 median
F
Value
1.1× net price
F
Affordability
$42,505/yr net
C
Graduation
57% graduate
D
Selectivity
94% admit rate
A-
Diversity
0.74 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Laguna College of Art and Design has a 94% acceptance rate, making it accessible to a wide range of aspiring artists. Of the 746 enrolled students, many are drawn to its specialized focus on visual and performing arts. The school's environment fosters creativity, catering to those passionate about artistic expression.

Data from Opportunity Insights highlights that graduates earn a median salary of $47,867 ten years after enrolling. While specific mobility rates are not reported, this salary indicates that graduates can achieve a comfortable living through their careers in the arts. The college's supportive atmosphere is designed for students who are dedicated to honing their craft and pursuing a career in creative fields.

The net price of attendance is $42,505, with a median debt of $27,000. This financial landscape suggests that while the cost of education is significant, graduates may find value in their earnings post-graduation. Students who thrive here are often those with a clear passion for visual and performing arts, ready to invest in their future.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Laguna College of Art and Design is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Laguna College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Laguna Beach, California, Laguna College of Art and Design admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.

Acceptance Rate
94%
Retention Rate
84%
Full-Time Faculty
9%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,099
Student–Faculty Ratio
9:1
Diversity Index
0.74
First-Gen Students
22%
Applicants
361
Admitted
319

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 Laguna College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Laguna College of Art and Design is $37,500, 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 $42,505. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $37,203 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$37,500
Out-of-State
$37,500
Avg Net Price
$42,505
Median Debt
$27,000
Pell Grant Rate
30%
Federal Loan Rate
43%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$37,203
Family Income $30K–$48K
$38,156
Family Income $48K–$75K
$40,258
Family Income $110K+
$46,889

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 Laguna College of Art and Design — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Laguna College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Laguna College of Art and Design earn a median of $47,867, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$31,987
8 Years
$41,722
10 Years
$47,867
Debt-to-Earnings
0.56x
Earning > $25K
53%

Earnings Trajectory

$31,987 6yr $41,722 8yr $47,867 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (29)
44%
100% (29)
44%
100% (29)
44%
100% (29)
44%

How Laguna Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation57%Earnings 10yr$48KNet Price$43KRetention84%Median Debt$27KPell Grant Rate30%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$37K$0-30K$38K$30-48K$40K$48-75K$47K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Laguna College of Art and Design Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Laguna College of Art and Design delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $42,505/year ($170,020 total). Graduates earn $47,867 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,739,535 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,569,515 (10.2× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 57% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$170,020
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,739,535
Net Return
$1,569,515
ROI Multiple
10.2×
Cost Per Year
$42,505
Median Debt
$27,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
57%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$3,498,204
Investment Income
$-1,802,185

Top Programs

The fields Laguna College of Art and 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Laguna College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Laguna Beach, California, Laguna College of Art and Design admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 94%. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Laguna College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Laguna College of Art and Design is $37,500, 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 $42,505. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $37,203 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.

Is Laguna College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Laguna College of Art and Design earn a median of $47,867, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Laguna College of Art and Design.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

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