Masters Colleges & Universities: Small ProgramsPrivate (nonprofit)
Art Center College of Design
Acceptance
74.5%
+10.1pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
6-yr Graduation
79%
+10.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
Total enrollment
2,308
peer median 1,677
Avg net price
$48,661
+$8.6k vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
Use this data
About
Art Center College of Design is a private art and design college located in Pasadena, California. It offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees focused on fields such as graphic design, industrial design, and transportation design. The specific founding year is not mentioned in the provided text.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Applied
1,461
1,461 candidates competed
Admitted
1,089
74.5% acceptance rate
Enrolled
343
31.5% yield
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Overall completion
79%+10.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
Overall completion
79%+10.0pp vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs
4-year graduation
35%
4-year graduation
35%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
79%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
79%
Full-time retention
86%
Full-time retention
86%
Pell equity
6.9pp gap
Pell recipients
74%42 of 57
Non-Pell (all)
81%148 of 183
Subsidized loan, no Pell
67%18 of 27
No Federal Aid
83%130 of 156
Non-Pell students graduate at a 6.9-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 18 Title IV programs, 5 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 2 fail. 11 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Total programs
18
Passing
5
27.8% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
2
11.1% of portfolio
Fail rate
11.1%
+10.5pp vs 0.6% national
Pass / fail distribution
18programs
- Passing5 · 27.8%
- No Data11 · 61.1%
- Failing2 · 11.1%
Severity spectrum
Critical
1
Severe
1
Recoverable
0
At Risk
0
Watch
0
Safe
5
No data
11
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Program
Typical
Benchmark
EP gap
Fine and Studio Arts
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$30,188
$48,304
National Same-Field BA Median
-37.5%
−$18,116
Fine and Studio Arts
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
-37.5%
$30,188 vs $48,304
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$33,073
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
-8.3%
−$3,009
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
-8.3%
$33,073 vs $36,082
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$49,933
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+38.4%
+$13,851
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+38.4%
$49,933 vs $36,082
Design and Applied Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$76,093
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+110.9%
+$40,011
Design and Applied Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
+110.9%
$76,093 vs $36,082
Architectural Sciences and Technology
Bachelor Degree · Architecture And Related Services
$77,401
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+114.5%
+$41,319
Architectural Sciences and Technology
Bachelor Degree · Architecture And Related Services
+114.5%
$77,401 vs $36,082
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
Bachelor Degree · Engineering Technologies/Technicians
$90,188
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+150.0%
+$54,106
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
Bachelor Degree · Engineering Technologies/Technicians
+150.0%
$90,188 vs $36,082
Engineering-Related Fields
Bachelor Degree · Engineering Technologies/Technicians
$92,293
$36,082
Same-State HS Median
+155.8%
+$56,211
Engineering-Related Fields
Bachelor Degree · Engineering Technologies/Technicians
+155.8%
$92,293 vs $36,082
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Program
Median debt
Median earnings
Debt burden
Fine and Studio Arts
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$115,287
$30,188
382%
Fine and Studio Arts
Master's Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$115,287 debt · $30,188 earn
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$31,750
$33,073
96%
Fine and Studio Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$31,750 debt · $33,073 earn
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
Bachelor Degree · Engineering Technologies/Technicians
$51,870
$90,188
58%
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
Bachelor Degree · Engineering Technologies/Technicians
$51,870 debt · $90,188 earn
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$27,343
$49,933
55%
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$27,343 debt · $49,933 earn
Design and Applied Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$31,000
$76,093
41%
Design and Applied Arts
Bachelor Degree · Visual And Performing Arts
$31,000 debt · $76,093 earn
Engineering-Related Fields
Bachelor Degree · Engineering Technologies/Technicians
$34,250
$92,293
37%
Engineering-Related Fields
Bachelor Degree · Engineering Technologies/Technicians
$34,250 debt · $92,293 earn
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor
National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
Accredited since 1963Next review Jun 2029
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Accredited since 1955Next review Jun 2031
Programmatic accreditations · 1
Action history · 4
- Jun 2025Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
- May 2020Renewal of AccreditationNational Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation
- Jun 2017Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Aug 2014Change in Agency recognitionNational Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation · Art and Design (ART) - Degree-granting schools and departments and non-degree-granting programs
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Aid exceeds costFamily pays
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Avg net price (private)
$48,661
+$8,599vs Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs median $40,062
Federal loans
33.0%
In-state tuition
$54,170
Out-of-state
$54,170
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 612 students received $3.8M in Pell grants, alongside $12.0M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients
612
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$3.8M
$3,765,599 total
Direct Loans
$12.0M
1,389 loan awards
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
1k’20
1k’21
1k’22
1k’23
1k’24
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Subsidized$2.6M
605 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$2.2M
581 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$1.0M
44 loan awards
Parent PLUS$5.1M
140 loan awards
Grad PLUS$911K
19 loan awards
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 388 borrowers who entered repayment, 4 (1.0%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate
1.0%
-1.3pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
388
Defaulted
4
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard
Default rate vs national, by cohort
2016
4.8%-4.5
2017
1.1%-8.1
2018
3.2%-3.8
2019
1.0%-1.3
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Art Center College of Design
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Distinct CIP programs12
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered
Top program families by completions
644 total completions
01Visual/Performing Arts
31448.8%
01Visual/Performing Arts
31448.8%
02Comm. Technologies
11618.0%
02Comm. Technologies
11618.0%
03Engineering Tech
11517.9%
03Engineering Tech
11517.9%
04Computer Sciences
578.9%
04Computer Sciences
578.9%
05Architecture
294.5%
05Architecture
294.5%
06Business
132.0%
06Business
132.0%
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Fall total
2,308
12-mo unduplicated
2,849
Undergraduate
2,535
Graduate
314
Gender split
Men
41%1,168
Women
59%1,681
Race / ethnicity composition
Non-resident
44.1%
Asian
29.8%
White
10.2%
Hispanic
9.3%
Two or more
4.7%
Black
1.2%
Unknown
0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.1%
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
0.00
0 offenses · 2,382 students
3-year trend
0.002 yrs ago0.411 yr ago0.00Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
1
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
2
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
0
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
0
Criminal offenses by type
No criminal offenses reported.
By location
0total
VAWA offenses
0
Domestic violence
0
Dating violence
0
Stalking
0 total under the Violence Against Women Act.
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons00
Drugs00
Liquor00
Residence-hall fires
No residence-hall fires reported.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Student-to-faculty
9.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
87
Art Center College of Design vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Art Center College of Design selected for federal comparison reporting.
This institutionPeer median
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectArt Center College of Design | 79% | 74.5% | 2,308 | $48,661 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs |
| 34% | Open admission | 5,498 | $40,613 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 61% | 91.1% | 1,308 | $53,909 | — | |
| 94% | 2.6% | 2,430 | $16,075 | R1 Research | |
| 67% | 32.3% | 1,277 | $46,080 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | |
| 82% | 65.4% | 9,760 | $46,555 | R2 Research | |
| 58% | 61.3% | 545 | $29,208 | — | |
| 71% | 91.9% | 1,433 | $34,617 | — | |
| 56% | 67.7% | 916 | $29,439 | — | |
| 56% | 62.2% | 505 | $40,062 | — | |
| 58% | 54.8% | 813 | $27,650 | — | |
| 79% | 45.1% | 10,179 | $48,381 | R2 Research | |
| 72% | 76.8% | 1,687 | $42,729 | — | |
| 69% | 76.3% | 1,989 | $24,100 | — | |
| 67% | 60.5% | 838 | $26,541 | — | |
| 51% | 48.5% | 831 | $29,926 | — | |
| 62% | 16.7% | 640 | $25,181 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | |
| 81% | 44.2% | 1,881 | $38,263 | Baccalaureate | |
| 66% | 81.8% | 1,267 | $51,248 | — | |
| 29% | 74.8% | 466 | $35,785 | — | |
| 83% | 25.2% | 1,242 | $34,191 | Baccalaureate | |
| 93% | 7.1% | 1,700 | $19,285 | Baccalaureate | |
| 74% | 73.3% | 5,356 | $52,659 | — | |
| 89% | 18.7% | 2,520 | $50,507 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 72% | 69.7% | 1,666 | $57,742 | — | |
| 69% | 83.0% | 18,550 | $49,430 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 67% | 77.5% | 3,394 | $49,790 | — | |
| 76% | 92.6% | 3,812 | $57,914 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 83% | 38.3% | 1,137 | $36,294 | Baccalaureate | |
| 92% | 3.6% | 18,625 | $13,807 | R1 Research | |
| 69% | 63.5% | 9,068 | $58,741 | R2 Research | |
University of the Arts | 69% | 78.2% | — | $44,154 | — |
| 60% | 81.6% | 849 | $33,692 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Small Programs | |
| Peer group median | 69% | 64.5% | 1,677 | $40,062 |
Institutions like Art Center College of Design
Explore the federal data for institutions in Art Center College of Design's comparison group.
- Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
Academy of Art University
Grad rate34%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment5,498Net price$40,613View data - California
California College of the Arts
Grad rate61%Admit rate91.1%Enrollment1,308Net price$53,909View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
California Institute of Technology
Grad rate94%Admit rate2.6%Enrollment2,430Net price$16,075View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsCalifornia
California Institute of the Arts
Grad rate67%Admit rate32.3%Enrollment1,277Net price$46,080View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Chapman University
Grad rate82%Admit rate65.4%Enrollment9,760Net price$46,555View data - Ohio
Cleveland Institute of Art
Grad rate58%Admit rate61.3%Enrollment545Net price$29,208View data - Michigan
College for Creative Studies
Grad rate71%Admit rate91.9%Enrollment1,433Net price$34,617View data - Ohio
Columbus College of Art & Design
Grad rate56%Admit rate67.7%Enrollment916Net price$29,439View data - Washington
Cornish College of the Arts
Grad rate56%Admit rate62.2%Enrollment505Net price$40,062View data - Missouri
Kansas City Art Institute
Grad rate58%Admit rate54.8%Enrollment813Net price$27,650View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate79%Admit rate45.1%Enrollment10,179Net price$48,381View data - Maryland
Maryland Institute College of Art
Grad rate72%Admit rate76.8%Enrollment1,687Net price$42,729View data - Massachusetts
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Grad rate69%Admit rate76.3%Enrollment1,989Net price$24,100View data - Wisconsin
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Grad rate67%Admit rate60.5%Enrollment838Net price$26,541View data - Minnesota
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Grad rate51%Admit rate48.5%Enrollment831Net price$29,926View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsCalifornia
Northeastern University Oakland
Grad rate62%Admit rate16.7%Enrollment640Net price$25,181View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Occidental College
Grad rate81%Admit rate44.2%Enrollment1,881Net price$38,263View data - California
Otis College of Art and Design
Grad rate66%Admit rate81.8%Enrollment1,267Net price$51,248View data - Oregon
Pacific Northwest College of Art
Grad rate29%Admit rate74.8%Enrollment466Net price$35,785View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Pitzer College
Grad rate83%Admit rate25.2%Enrollment1,242Net price$34,191View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Pomona College
Grad rate93%Admit rate7.1%Enrollment1,700Net price$19,285View data - New York
Pratt Institute-Main
Grad rate74%Admit rate73.3%Enrollment5,356Net price$52,659View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsRhode Island
Rhode Island School of Design
Grad rate89%Admit rate18.7%Enrollment2,520Net price$50,507View data - Florida
Ringling College of Art and Design
Grad rate72%Admit rate69.7%Enrollment1,666Net price$57,742View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsGeorgia
Savannah College of Art and Design
Grad rate69%Admit rate83.0%Enrollment18,550Net price$49,430View data - Illinois
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Grad rate67%Admit rate77.5%Enrollment3,394Net price$49,790View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsNew York
School of Visual Arts
Grad rate76%Admit rate92.6%Enrollment3,812Net price$57,914View data - BaccalaureateCalifornia
Scripps College
Grad rate83%Admit rate38.3%Enrollment1,137Net price$36,294View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
Stanford University
Grad rate92%Admit rate3.6%Enrollment18,625Net price$13,807View data - R2 ResearchNew York
The New School
Grad rate69%Admit rate63.5%Enrollment9,068Net price$58,741View data - Pennsylvania
University of the Arts
Grad rate69%Admit rate78.2%Enrollment—Net price$44,154 - Masters Colleges & Universities: Small ProgramsCalifornia
Woodbury University
Grad rate60%Admit rate81.6%Enrollment849Net price$33,692View data
Art Center College of Design Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
Office
Office of Institutional Research
Reports to Center for Educational Effectiveness
Email
oir [at] artcenter.edu
The Office of Institutional Research provides leadership on institutional data analysis and reporting to promote evidence-based decision-making and supports key departments with strategic data for planning.
Visit IR office pageReports & documents (1)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
Notable alumni of Art Center College of Design (19)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Michael BayFilm and Graduate Film
- Roger AvaryFilm and Graduate Film
- Ralph McQuarrieEntertainment Design
- Syd MeadEntertainment Design
- SangYup LeeTransportation Design
- Larry ShinodaTransportation Design
- Franz von HolzhausenTransportation Design
- Chip FooseTransportation Design
- Henrik FiskerTransportation Design
- Floyd NormanIllustration
- Andy ParkEntertainment Design
- Stefan G. BucherGraphic Design
Showing 1–12 of 19
1 / 2
Frequently asked questions about Art Center College of Design
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Art Center College of Design.
What is the acceptance rate at Art Center College of Design?
Art Center College of Design's acceptance rate is 74.5% (1,089 admitted from 1,461 applicants), based on the latest IPEDS.
What is the graduation rate at Art Center College of Design?
Art Center College of Design reports a 6-year graduation rate of 79% per the latest IPEDS.
How many students attend Art Center College of Design?
Art Center College of Design reports a total enrollment of 2,308 students per the latest IPEDS.
What is the average net price at Art Center College of Design?
The average net price at Art Center College of Design is $48,661 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.
What is the yield rate at Art Center College of Design?
Art Center College of Design's yield rate is 31.5%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.
Where is Art Center College of Design located?
Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, California 91103.
Who runs Institutional Research at Art Center College of Design?
Art Center College of Design's IR work is done by the Office of Institutional Research, which reports to Center for Educational Effectiveness.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
Federal Pell Grant & loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant and Direct Loan recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →
Have a question this page can’t answer?
Ask Clema anything about Art Center College of Design and its peers — plain language in, cited answers out, in minutes instead of days.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card