CollegeCostWise

Bachelor's · Pasadena, California

Is Design and Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design worth it?

High confidence High confidence: 100+ graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back slowly: graduates typically recover the cost in about 7.8 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating
$48,556
Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating
$81,733
Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation
$26,875
NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families
$205k (likely $205k – $287k)
AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4
$42k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in CA
2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback
7.8 years (likely 6.7–9.6)
Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return
−$62k (likely −$196k – $11k)
Today's dollars
20-year net return
$435k (likely $265k – $606k)
Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide)
81%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in
not reported / ≤ 5%
NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20

Change income, residency or loans Compare Design and Applied Arts at other schools

🎨 Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward art, design & performance majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

  • AP 2-D Art and Design
  • AP Drawing
  • AP Art History
  • AP Music Theory

IB Higher Level

  • Visual Arts HL
  • Music HL or Theatre HL or Film HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at Art Center College of Design

Design and Applied Arts at other schools in California