Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California · Private, nonprofit

Of 8 assessed programs, 6 leave graduates out-earning a typical California high-school graduate (about $36,976/yr) and 2 fall short. Another 8 could not be assessed.

What would this cost you?

Family incomeNet price per year
Under $30k$39,645
$30k to $48k$42,161
$48k to $75k$44,738
$75k to $110k$45,677
$110k and up$61,144
All families (average)$48,661

Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). It reflects students who received federal aid.

Program earnings vs a high-school graduate

Earnings are measured four years after completion when available. Where four-year earnings are suppressed, one-year earnings are shown and marked 1-year earnings. One-year and four-year figures reflect different career stages and should not be compared as if measured at the same time.

8 of 16 programs could be assessed 50% have an earnings verdict

Programs by earnings versus a typical California high-school graduate.
ProgramDegreeMedian earningsvs a high-school gradVerdictMedian debtYears to repayRecent completers
DesignBachelor's Degree$76,093+$39,117clears the bar$31,0000.8 yrs228
Engineering-Related FieldsBachelor's Degree$92,293+$55,317clears the bar$35,6360.6 yrs70
Graphic CommunicationsBachelor's Degree$67,010 1-year earnings+$30,034clears the bar$37,0001.2 yrs62
Film and PhotographyBachelor's Degree$49,933+$12,957clears the bar$28,7502.2 yrs47
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$90,188+$53,212clears the bar$50,2500.9 yrs34
Fine ArtsMaster's Degree$30,188-$6,788falls shortinsufficient datainsufficient data23
Architectural Sciences and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$77,401+$40,425clears the barinsufficient datainsufficient data22
Fine ArtsBachelor's Degree$33,073-$3,903falls shortinsufficient datainsufficient data14
DesignMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data36
Computer Software and Media ApplicationsMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data25
Computer Software and Media ApplicationsBachelor's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data21
Engineering-Related FieldsMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data13
Film and PhotographyMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data10
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data4
Architectural Sciences and TechnologyMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data3
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, OtherMaster's Degreeinsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient datainsufficient data0

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release 2026-06-10. Earnings are medians measured four years after completion where available (programs shown with a 1-year figure are marked), compared with the state high-school-graduate benchmark ($36,976/yr). Debt is federal loans only. Suppressed values are shown as insufficient data, never imputed. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise.