Art Center College of Design
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
75%Acceptance rate
$48,661Average net price / year
79%Graduation rate
$71,958Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$31,000Median debt at graduation
2,017Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $54,170
- Total cost of attendance
- $75,649
- Books & supplies
- $4,000
- Average net price
- $48,661
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $39,645
- $30–48k
- $42,161
- $48–75k
- $44,738
- $75–110k
- $45,677
- $110k+
- $61,144
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 74.5%
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 79%
- First-year retention
- 86%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $53,562
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $71,958
- Median debt (graduates)
- $31,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 22%
- Students with federal loans
- 33%
Programs: what graduates earn
8 of 16 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Communications | 79 | $67,010 | $37,000 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 51 | $66,860 | $35,636 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 50 | $59,384 | $50,250 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 245 | $47,053 | $31,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 41 | $22,988 | $28,750 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 17 | $77,401 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 18 | $27,282 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine and Studio Arts | 2 | $30,188 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 2,017
- Graduate students
- 314
- Part-time
- 11%
- Women / men
- 60% / 40%
- White
- 10%
- Hispanic
- 9%
- Black
- 1%
- Asian
- 30%
- International
- 44%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 9:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $84,447 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 19%
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
- Website
- www.artcenter.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Architecture – 3% of degrees
- Communications Technologies – 23% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 5% of degrees
- Engineering Technologies – 19% of degrees
- Visual & Performing Arts – 50% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at Art Center College of Design?
74.5% of applicants were admitted.
How much does Art Center College of Design cost?
The average net price after grants is $48,661 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $54,170 and the full cost of attendance is $75,649.
How much do Art Center College of Design graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $71,958 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
79% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Pasadena
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the People Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofit · 22,688 students |
— | — | 34% | — |
| Pasadena City College Pasadena, CA · Public · 21,466 students |
$3,864 | — | 48% | $43,937 |
| California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofit · 987 students |
$16,075 | 3% | 94% | $128,566 |
| Institute of Culinary Education Pasadena, CA · Private for-profit · 553 students |
— | — | 77% | $47,865 |
| Pacific Oaks College Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofit · 312 students |
— | 34% | — | $52,485 |
| Los Angeles College of Music Pasadena, CA · Private for-profit · 227 students |
$43,590 | 88% | 41% | $31,758 |
| Integrity College of Health Pasadena, CA · Private for-profit · 225 students |
$14,819 | — | 0% | — |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Pasadena Pasadena, CA · Private for-profit · 170 students |
$26,022 | — | 38% | $25,845 |
| Providence Christian College Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofit · 168 students |
$25,163 | 100% | 20% | $46,264 |
| Capstone College Pasadena, CA · Private for-profit · 148 students |
$16,012 | — | 64% | $35,348 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.