At $45,864/yr net price, Otis College of Art and Design graduates earn $58,152/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $24,152/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $45,864 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $183,456 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,152/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$24,152/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 7.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 60.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $40,358/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $39,688/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $43,733/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $48,011/yr |
| $110,001+ | $52,546/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor | $42,123 | $27,000 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General. | Bachelor | $38,289 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Master | $22,667 | |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor | $18,315 | $28,500 |
The Risk Factor
60.6% of students at Otis College of Art and Design graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 39% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Otis College of Art and Design is one of the most expensive bets in higher education, and the payoff is thin. You pay $45,864 a year, but median earnings ten years out land at $58,152. That gap means four years here can cost close to $180,000 before your degree returns anything close to it.
The program numbers make the risk clearer. Design and Applied Arts, the top-earning bachelor's path, pays $42,123 early on, and Visual and Performing Arts sits lower at $38,289. Fine and Studio Arts is the worst spot: $18,315, which is below what many jobs pay without any degree, against $28,500 in debt. If fine studio art is your plan, this is a hard financial loss.
Los Angeles is the country's design and entertainment hub, which is the one thing working in your favor. If you land in graphic design, product design, or animation, the local job market gives you a real shot at closing the earnings gap over time. If you want a studio fine-arts career, the LA cost of living compounds the low starting pay.
The net price tiers hold a surprise. If your family earns over $110k, you pay $52,546, but if you earn under $30k, you pay $40,358. That is still a heavy load on a low income, and aid here narrows the gap far less than at many private schools. A 60.6% graduation rate and 72.93% retention mean roughly one in four of you leaves, some carrying debt with no degree.
Otis fits you if you are committed to a design or applied-arts career in the LA market and can limit borrowing. If you are undecided, chasing fine arts, or need aid to make the price work, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Otis College of Art and Design worth the cost?
With a net price of $45,864 per year and median earnings of $58,152 ten years after graduation, Otis offers weak financial returns compared to most colleges. The high cost relative to graduate earnings makes it difficult to justify financially for many students.
What are the best paying majors at Otis College of Art and Design?
Design and Applied Arts graduates earn the most at $42,123 annually, while Fine Arts graduates average just $18,315-$22,667. Students should carefully consider that even the highest-paying programs at Otis still offer below-average salaries relative to the school's high tuition costs.
How much debt do Otis College of Art and Design graduates have?
Otis graduates carry a median debt of $27,000, which is relatively manageable compared to other private art schools. However, with most graduates earning under $43,000 annually, even this debt level can create financial strain.
Does Otis College of Art and Design have good graduation rates?
Otis has a 60.60% graduation rate, meaning about 4 in 10 students don't finish their degree. This adds significant risk to an already expensive education with limited earning potential.