At $43,369/yr net price, Moore College of Art and Design graduates earn $37,839/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $3,839/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $43,369 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $173,476 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $37,839/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$3,839/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 45.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 63.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $39,174/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $36,789/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $47,139/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $46,646/yr |
| $110,001+ | $46,274/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor | $31,314 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor | $24,267 | |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | Bachelor | $24,035 |
The Risk Factor
63.4% of students at Moore College of Art and Design graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 37% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
The financial return at Moore College of Art and Design is weak. You pay $43,369 a year net and earn a median of $37,839 a decade after enrolling. That earnings figure sits below what a full-time worker makes at the federal minimum wage in many states, and it comes after four years of art-school tuition.
No program here pays off in dollar terms. Design and Applied Arts, the highest-earning major, gets you $31,314 a year while leaving you with $27,000 in debt. Fine and Studio Arts and Film/Video and Photographic Arts land even lower, both under $25,000. These are the top earners at the school, so there is no safe major that flips the math in your favor.
The specific risk is the mismatch between cost and output. A $26,000 median debt against roughly $37,839 in earnings means your loan payments eat a heavy share of an art-market income in Philadelphia, where creative work skews freelance and unstable. You are borrowing private-college money for public-art-wage results.
The net price tiers make this harder, not easier. If your family earns under $30k, you still pay $39,174. The $48-75k and $75-110k brackets pay more than $46,000, higher than the lowest-income tier. Aid does not scale down much as income drops, so lower-earning families carry close to the same cost as wealthier ones.
Moore is a reasonable fit only if you have outside funding, low borrowing needs, or a clear plan to work in art and design regardless of pay. If you are choosing based on financial return, or you would need to borrow the full net price, look elsewhere. The 63.4% graduation rate also means a real chance you leave with debt and no degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moore College of Art and Design worth the cost?
With graduates earning $37,839 ten years after enrollment and a net price of $43,369 annually, Moore College has challenging return on investment numbers. The median debt of $26,000 is reasonable, but low starting salaries in creative fields make this investment risky for many students.
What are the best paying programs at Moore College of Art and Design?
Design and Applied Arts graduates earn the highest median salary at $31,314, followed by Fine and Studio Arts at $24,267. Film, Video and Photographic Arts graduates earn $24,035, which is low considering the specialized training and equipment costs.
How much debt do Moore College of Art and Design graduates have?
The median debt for Moore College graduates is $26,000, which is manageable compared to many private colleges. However, with art and design graduates typically earning under $32,000 starting out, even this debt level can strain budgets.
Does Moore College of Art and Design offer good financial aid?
The net price of $43,369 suggests limited financial aid effectiveness, as this represents what families actually pay after grants and scholarships. For an art school with modest graduate earnings, this price point puts many students at financial risk.