Design and Applied Arts at California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA · Bachelor's Degree · about 84 graduates a year
California College of the Arts graduates in design and applied arts earn 15% more than the national median for the same major four years after graduating. Their median federal debt equals about 46% of one year’s pay at that point.
How California College of the Arts Compares for Design and Applied Arts
All 299 colleges reporting design and applied arts earnings at this degree level, ranked by median pay four years after graduation. “Wage-adjusted” divides pay by the square root of the state’s wage index so colleges in low-wage states aren’t penalized for local pay.
| # | College | 4 yrs after | Wage-adjusted | Adj. rank | 1 yr after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA | $138,588 | $140,945 | #1 | $66,274 |
| 2 | Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI | $99,444 | $104,852 | #2 | — |
| 3 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | $95,697 | $99,066 | #3 | $52,694 |
| 4 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA | $89,193 | $82,038 | #6 | $63,449 |
| 5 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | $89,022 | $81,004 | #7 | $64,846 |
| 6 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY | $87,358 | $83,147 | #5 | $36,191 |
| 7 | Northeastern University Boston, MA | $87,336 | $76,908 | #10 | $49,727 |
| 8 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | $83,414 | $89,488 | #4 | $46,825 |
| 9 | Chapman University Orange, CA | $78,121 | $71,085 | #21 | $46,519 |
| 10 | Art Center College of Design Pasadena, CA | $76,093 | $69,240 | #26 | $47,053 |
| … | |||||
| 86 | Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ | $59,641 | $61,282 | #68 | $35,960 |
| 87 | Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, PA | $59,551 | $60,564 | #74 | $42,510 |
| 88 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS | $59,441 | $61,709 | #63 | $37,508 |
| 89 | California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA | $59,238 | $53,903 | #138 | $28,673 |
| 90 | University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL | $59,188 | $58,152 | #101 | $34,377 |
| 91 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN | $58,917 | $63,207 | #52 | $44,602 |
| 92 | Drake University Des Moines, IA | $58,834 | $61,886 | #60 | — |
Other Majors at California College of the Arts by Graduate Pay
| Major | 4 yrs after | 1 yr after | Rank in major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Computer Interaction | $149,149 | $101,801 | #1 of 5 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,012 | $17,690 | #147 of 423 |
| Graphic Communications | $31,068 | $26,481 | #55 of 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do California College of the Arts design and applied arts graduates make?
Graduates earn a median $28,673 one year after graduating and $59,238 four years after graduating. Figures are from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How does California College of the Arts rank for design and applied arts?
Among 299 colleges reporting earnings for design and applied arts graduates, California College of the Arts ranks #89 by median pay four years after graduation, and #138 after adjusting for state wage levels.
Is design and applied arts at California College of the Arts worth it?
Its graduates earn 15% more than the national median for design and applied arts ($51,490), and the median federal debt at graduation is $27,000.
← All data for California College of the Arts · Methodology
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled; programs with few graduates are not reported. Wage adjustment uses Census ACS state median household income.