Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 65.7%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 58.7%
- Retention Rate
- 57.4%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $49,414
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $27,000
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 63.4%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $286/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts. | Master | $86,129 | |
| Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management. | Master | $77,536 | |
| Architecture. | Master | $56,776 | |
| Architecture. | Bachelor | $50,231 | |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor | $39,860 | $27,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | Master | $35,060 | |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Master | $34,467 | $51,870 |
| Graphic Communications. | Bachelor | $30,409 | $26,899 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor | $15,552 | $27,000 |
Outcomes Overview
California College of the Arts graduates enter the competitive creative industries with a median debt of $27,000 and earnings of $49,414 after ten years. Monthly loan payments of $286 consume about 7% of typical graduate income, which is manageable compared to many art schools. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 reflects reasonable borrowing relative to creative field salaries. Graduates typically pursue careers in graphic design, fine arts, architecture, and digital media where starting salaries are modest but can grow substantially with experience and reputation. The 85.6% employment rate demonstrates strong job placement despite the challenging creative market. For an art school, this represents an average return on investment given the specialized nature of creative careers.