Art Center College of Design
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Art Center College of Design, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 43% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 79th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Art Center College of Design
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering-Related Fields | $66,860 | $92,293 | +3% | #16 of 33 | #26 | $35,636 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $59,384 | $90,188 | +10% | #10 of 61 | #35 | $50,250 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | — | $77,401 | +10% | #5 of 22 | #8 | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | $47,053 | $76,093 | +48% | #10 of 299 | #26 | $31,000 |
| Graphic Communications | $67,010 | — | — | — | — | $37,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $22,988 | $49,933 | +14% | #41 of 144 | #56 | $28,750 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | — | $33,073 | -20% | #386 of 423 | #410 | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Art Center College of Design Town Property Report
- Avg home value near campus: $1,088,967
- Avg rent near campus: $3,455/mo
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 91101 (3.0% cap, Pasadena)
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🏆 Where Art Center College of Design Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $50,606 | $50,606 |
Financial Aid
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Art Center College of Design's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Art Center College of Design?
How much does it cost to attend Art Center College of Design?
What is the graduation rate at Art Center College of Design?
Is Art Center College of Design a good school?
- Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (C): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Art Center College of Design?
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Art Center College of Design — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
🎓 Similar Colleges to Art Center College of Design
Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.
Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology