Outcomes
Strong post-grad earnings
Median earnings 10 yrs out are above the graduate average.
This school$72k
National avg$48k
Source: IPEDS 2024
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University private Verified data
Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, CA
Art Center College of Design at a glance
Art Center College of Design is a private university in Pasadena, California with 2,308 students (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). It admitted 75% of applicants (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Its published tuition is $54,170 (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25); students who received federal aid paid an average net price of $48,661 a year after grants (College Scorecard, a prior cohort). 79% of students finish within the federal tracking window (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021); 33% of students take federal loans, and borrowers leave with a median $31,000 (College Scorecard). By program, the highest graduate earnings four years after finishing are in Engineering-Related Fields, bachelor's ($92,293) and Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, bachelor's ($90,188) (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates).
Tuition
$54,170
2024-25
Acceptance
75%
Fall 2024 applicants
Students
2,308
Fall 2024
Type
University
Setting
Urban
Cost & Financial Aid
In-State Tuition
$54,170
Out-of-State Tuition
$54,170
Avg On-Campus Living
Not available
Avg Off-Campus Living
$19,632
Financial Aid & Outcomes
College Scorecard
What will it actually cost?
Sticker price: $54,170
Net price (after aid): $48,661
Most students pay the net price after financial aid, not the sticker price.
Net price by family income
$0 – $30k: $39,645 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$30k – $48k: $42,161 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$48k – $75k: $44,738 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$75k – $110k: $45,677 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
$110k+: $61,144 (above the federal borrowing ceiling)
Can federal loans cover it? (2026 limits)
For families earning $0 – $30k, $30k – $48k, $48k – $75k, $75k – $110k, $110k+, the average net price here is above the $25,500 a first-year dependent student and their parents can borrow federally from 1 July 2026, by up to $35,644. That part has to come from savings, income, work, or private loans.
The ceiling is $5,500 in the student’s own Direct Loan plus up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS, which requires that the parent has no adverse credit history. Net prices are averages for a prior cohort of aid recipients, not a quote. Source: Federal Student Aid loan limits. Where this gap is largest.
After graduation
Median earnings (10yr): $71,958
Median debt at graduation: $31,000
Est. monthly loan payment: $329
Earnings-to-debt ratio
Moderate · 2.3×Graduates earn about 2.3× their median debt every year.
Financial access
Students on Pell Grants: 22%
Pell Grants are federal aid for students from low-income families.
Students with federal loans: 33%
Share of students who borrowed to pay for school.
Some fields may not be reported by this institution. Verify final details with the school directly.
How does cost line up with outcomes across colleges? See our analysis of college cost vs. graduation and earnings, an association shaped by selectivity and sector, not proof a pricier college pays off.
FAFSA earnings check
: Not flaggedArt Center College of Design does not trigger the FAFSA's "lower earnings" notice. Its graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $78,049, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California.
This is one figure for the whole institution, not for any program: earnings differ by credential and field. It covers graduates who completed in 2017-18 and 2018-19, received federal aid, and were working and not enrolled when earnings were measured in 2022 and 2023, in January 2026 dollars. The Department says the notice is informational only: it does not change aid eligibility. Source: U.S. Department of Education, FSA Data Center, March 2026 release. Which colleges are flagged, and what changed.
Student Outcomes
Graduation Rate
79%
Freshman Retention
86%
Source: IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25 (provisional release)
Final aid offers, scholarships, and net price vary per family. Always verify with the school's financial aid office.
Scholarships available
Decision support · Cost & value
Quick Decision Highlights
The strongest cost, aid, and value reasons to consider this school.
Strong completion rate
79% above avg
Strong year-1 retention
86% above avg
Scholarships available
Aid signal
Affordability snapshot
Tuition
$54.2k
Net price
$48.7k
Pell
22%
Median debt
$31k
Earnings (10y)
$72k
above avg
“Avg” comparisons reference national IPEDS / College Scorecard averages (~2022–23); figures are directional and vary by school and year.
Admissions
Acceptance rate
75%
SAT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
ACT range
Institution does not report this
Institution does not report this
Source: IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024 (provisional release)
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Location
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UniversitiesCommunity Colleges1 school
Institution does not report this
Pasadena, CA 91103
Academics
Studying online: a small share study entirely online
In Fall 2023, 43 of Art Center College of Design's 2,382 students (2%) were enrolled entirely at a distance. A further 1,377 (58%) took at least one distance course alongside in-person study.
Distance-education figures count STUDENTS enrolled in Fall 2023, not programs on offer. "Exclusively at a distance" means a student took only distance courses that term. A college with few or no such students may still run online courses or an online degree, so a low figure is not evidence that online study is unavailable, and a high one is not a judgement of quality either way.
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Fall Enrollment (distance education status), Fall 2023
Fields of study
Art Center College of Design reported conferring credentials in 9 different fields to the federal government. See which ones, and at what credential level.
Campus & Student Life
Area Safety Rating
Decision support
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Graduate earnings by program
What Art Center College of Design graduates earn, by program
Art Center College of Design's bachelor's graduates in Design and Applied Arts earned a median $76,093 four years after graduating, 48% above the $51,490 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $47,053; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $31,000 in federal loans at this college (about $329 a month on a 10-year plan).
8 programs at Art Center College of Design have federal earnings or debt figures, largest graduating classes first. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The national median is the same measure for every program in that field and credential in the U.S.
| Program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | National median | Federal debt borrowed at this college (median) | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts, Bachelor's | $76,093 | $51,490, +48% | $31,000 | $329/mo |
| Graphic Communications, Bachelor's | — | $43,283 | $37,000 | $392/mo |
| Engineering-Related Fields, Bachelor's | $92,293 | $89,619, +3% | $35,636 | $378/mo |
| Film and Photography, Bachelor's | $49,933 | $43,765, +14% | $28,750 | $305/mo |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Bachelor's | $90,188 | $82,073, +10% | $50,250 | $533/mo |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology, Bachelor's | $77,401 | $70,074, +10% | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Bachelor's | $33,073 | $41,367, −20% | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts, Master's | $30,188 | $49,079, −38% | — | — |
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Monthly payment assumes a standard 10-year plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data, 10 June 2026. Download every program (CSV). Same degree, different paycheck: what the national data show.
Frequently asked questions
About Art Center College of Design
Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.
- Where is Art Center College of Design located?
- Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA, in the United States.
- What type of institution is Art Center College of Design?
- Art Center College of Design is a private university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.
- What is the acceptance rate at Art Center College of Design?
- The most recently reported acceptance rate at Art Center College of Design is approximately 75% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.
- What is the tuition at Art Center College of Design?
- Art Center College of Design's published in-state tuition is approximately $54,170 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.
- How many students attend Art Center College of Design?
- Art Center College of Design reports total enrollment of approximately 2,308 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.
- How much does Art Center College of Design actually cost after financial aid?
- The average net price at Art Center College of Design is approximately $48,661 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $39,645 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $61,144. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.
- What is the graduation rate at Art Center College of Design?
- Art Center College of Design reports a graduation rate of approximately 79% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.
- How much student debt do graduates of Art Center College of Design have?
- Students who borrowed at Art Center College of Design left with a median of approximately $31,000 in federal loans, and about 33% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.
- How much do graduates of Art Center College of Design earn?
- Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $71,958 for students who received federal financial aid at Art Center College of Design. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.
- How should I verify final details about Art Center College of Design?
- CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with Art Center College of Design.
- How much do Design and Applied Arts graduates from Art Center College of Design earn?
- Art Center College of Design's bachelor's graduates in Design and Applied Arts earned a median $76,093 four years after graduating, 48% above the $51,490 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $47,053; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $31,000 in federal loans at this college (about $329 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much do Engineering-Related Fields graduates from Art Center College of Design earn?
- Art Center College of Design's bachelor's graduates in Engineering-Related Fields earned a median $92,293 four years after graduating, 3% above the $89,619 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $66,860; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $35,636 in federal loans at this college (about $378 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Which programs at Art Center College of Design have the highest graduate earnings?
- Among the 4 programs at Art Center College of Design with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Engineering-Related Fields, bachelor's ($92,293); Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, bachelor's ($90,188); and Design and Applied Arts, bachelor's ($76,093) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.
- Does Art Center College of Design get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?
- No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, Art Center College of Design's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $78,049, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.
Fields this college awarded credentials in
All 9 fields Art Center College of Design reported, by credentials conferred in 2024-25, using the federal classification of each field. The level is the highest credential actually awarded, which is not always the one a field is best known for.
| Field | Awarded | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 230 | Graduate (25 graduate · 205 bachelor's) |
| Graphic Communications | 116 | Bachelor's |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 62 | Graduate (8 graduate · 54 bachelor's) |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 57 | Graduate (30 graduate · 27 bachelor's) |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 55 | Graduate (23 graduate · 32 bachelor's) |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 53 | Graduate (9 graduate · 44 bachelor's) |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 29 | Graduate (16 graduate · 13 bachelor's) |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 29 | Graduate (11 graduate · 18 bachelor's) |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | 13 | Graduate |
Fields are as classified in the federal IPEDS completions collection, which records credentials already conferred. A field listed here was awarded in the reporting year; it does not confirm the program is currently admitting students, and a field CampusPin has no guide for is still shown under its official federal title. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Explore more
Compare colleges side by side. Other colleges in Los Angeles, CA. All colleges in California. California college costs by family income. Student debt at California colleges. Computer science in California. Business in California. Nursing in California. Psychology in California. Engineering in California.
Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with Art Center College of Design before applying.
Data sources & methodology
Reporting period: 2024. Last verified: June 10, 2026.
Facts on this profile of Art Center College of Design are compiled from federal datasets and the institution's own published information.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
IPEDS / NCES College Navigator
Federal enrollment, admissions, tuition, retention, and program data. Released annually with a 1–2 year lag.
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
Net price by income band, post-graduation earnings, and federal aid context.
Clery Act campus security reports
Annual campus security and fire-safety disclosures required of U.S. institutions.
Institutional websites
Each school's official admissions, registrar, and financial-aid pages are the authoritative source for current details.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (2024). Art Center College of Design, college profile. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/art-center-college-of-design
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