Otis College of Art and Design
#1 Best Online Bachelor's in Visual- Graduation Rate
- 64% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,152 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $51,248 F
- 199% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 82% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 8.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $8.4 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Online Bachelor's in Visual.
Every $1 spent returns $8.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,509,685.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 43% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 4.27% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $8.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Otis College of Art and Design Matters
Otis College of Art and Design is a private special-focus institution in Los Angeles, 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: 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
- 1,223
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Otis College of Art and 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
Accessible — admits about 82% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1265–1395. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $51,248 a year after grants and scholarships — 199% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,152 ten years after enrolling — 43% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 4.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 3% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.76 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Otis College of Art and Design has an acceptance rate of 82%, making it accessible for many aspiring artists and designers. This openness invites a diverse student body, fostering creativity and collaboration in a vibrant Los Angeles setting. With a total enrollment of 1,223, students have ample opportunities to connect with peers and faculty alike.
Graduates from Otis College earn an average of $58,152 within ten years of completing their degree. While specific mobility data is unavailable, the college's focus on visual and performing arts likely positions its graduates well within creative industries. The 64% graduation rate suggests that most students who start their journey at Otis find a way to complete it, although some may face challenges along the way.
Attending Otis College comes with a net price of $51,248, and many students graduate with a median debt of $27,000. Financial aid is accessible, with 34% of students receiving Pell Grants. Those who thrive here are often passionate about the arts and ready to immerse themselves in a hands-on learning environment that values creativity and expression.
Rankings
- #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Visual
- #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Graphic Design
- #1 Best Online Master's in Visual
- #1 Best Online Master's in Graphic Design
- #1 Best Online Visual Programs
- #1 Best Online Graphic Design Programs
- #27 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Visual
- #27 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's in Graphic Design
Can I Get In?
How selective Otis 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.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Otis College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Los Angeles, California, Otis College of Art and Design admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,310. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- SAT Average
- 1310
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1265–1395
- Full-Time Faculty
- 17%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,491
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.81
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 2,083
- Admitted
- 1,735
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Otis College of Art and Design is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 10% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 10%
- of admits enroll
There is an early lane. Otis offers Early Action, so you can apply ahead of the regular deadline and hear back sooner without committing to enroll.
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 Otis College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Otis College of Art and Design is $56,488, 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 $51,248. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $44,731 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $56,488
- Out-of-State
- $56,488
- Avg Net Price
- $51,248
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 34%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 44%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $44,731
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $44,821
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $28,167
- Family Income $110K+
- $60,718
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 Otis 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.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Otis College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Otis College of Art and Design earn a median of $58,152, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,654
- 8 Years
- $57,367
- 10 Years
- $58,152
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.46x
- Earning > $25K
- 57%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (154)
- 65%
- 100% (154)
- 65%
- 100% (154)
- 65%
- 100% (154)
- 65%
How Otis 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 Otis 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, Otis College of Art and Design delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $51,248/year ($204,992 total). Graduates earn $58,152 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,714,677 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,509,685 (8.4× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $204,992
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,714,677
- Net Return
- $1,509,685
- ROI Multiple
- 8.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $51,248
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 64%
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 Otis College of Art and Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Otis College of Art and 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 4.27%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.7% 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 40% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 4.27%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 40.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $109,371
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $409,068
Top Programs
The fields Otis 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.
- Visual & Performing Arts 97% $50,050 early-career
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 Otis College of Art and 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 Otis College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Los Angeles, California, Otis College of Art and Design admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,310. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Otis College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Otis College of Art and Design is $56,488, 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 $51,248. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $44,731 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Otis College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Otis College of Art and Design earn a median of $58,152, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Otis College of Art and Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Otis College of Art and 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 4.27%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.7% 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 40% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $80,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Otis College of Art and 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 Otis College of Art and Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Otis College of Art and Design offer Early Decision?
No. Otis College of Art and Design does not report a binding Early Decision plan, though it does offer a non-binding Early Action option (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Otis College of Art and Design?
About 10% of admitted students choose to enroll at Otis College of Art and Design — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Otis College of Art and Design.
- La Sierra UniversityRiverside, CA · Close peer64% grad $61,824 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Nichols CollegeDudley, MA · Close peer63% grad $58,063 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Joseph's College of MaineStandish, ME · Close peer67% grad $59,045 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- William Jessup UniversityRocklin, CA · Close peer58% grad $56,257 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Rivier UniversityNashua, NH · Close peer55% grad $52,248 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northwestern CollegeOrange City, IA · Close peer65% grad $49,802 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Otis College of Art and 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 Otis College of Art and Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note