Is Art Center College of Design Worth the Debt?
Graduates of Art Center College of Design earn a median of $80,691 within 5 years, against a median debt of $26,968. The graduation rate is 10000%.
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Avg Median Debt | $26,968 |
| Avg Median Earnings (1yr) | $57,125 |
| Avg Median Earnings (5yr) | $80,691 |
| Graduation Rate | 10000% |
| School Type | private |
| Majors Available | 8 |
Top Majors by ROI
| Major | ROI Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 95/100 | A |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 82/100 | A |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies | 82/100 | A |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 71/100 | B |
| Graphic Communications | 66/100 | B |
How does Art Center College of Design compare?
Average debt at Art Center College of Design is $26,968, which is roughly at the national average of $26,295 for federal aid recipients. First-year earnings of $57,125 sit around the national average of $57,775.
That works out to a debt-to-income ratio of 0.47x — meaning a graduate would need 0.5 years of full pre-tax first-year salary to clear the debt. Below 0.5x is excellent and indicates strong ROI. Picking the right major matters more than picking the school: at Art Center College of Design, the Computer Software and Media Applications program scores Grade A on ROI (STRONG BUY).
Graduates of Art Center College of Design earn a median of $80,691 within 5 years, against a median debt of $26,968. The graduation rate is 10000%.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.