Art Center College of Design tuition, cost & net price

The sticker price at Art Center College of Design is $75,649 a year. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $48,661 on average, and what your family pays depends mostly on income. Choose yours below.

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What your family pays
$48,661 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $75,649. College Scorecard.

Net price by family income

Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard, latest reported year

Sticker price, line by line

Per year, living on campusAll students
Tuition & fees$54,170
Housing & meals—
Books & supplies$4,000
Personal & travel—
Living-at-home adjustment—
Total cost of attendance$75,649

Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.

Debt after graduation

Median federal loan debt$26,000
Loan default rate3.2%3-year rate, 2017 repayment cohort
Debt as a share of earnings 10 years out36%

College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal

Who gets aid

Students with Pell Grants22%Federal grants for lower-income students
Grants for the average aided student$26,988Sticker price minus average net price

State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission

College Scorecard

Art Center College of Design net price compared with other California colleges

Art Center College of Design has the 111th-lowest average net price of 115 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:

RankCollegeAvg. net priceGraduationEarnings, 10 yrs
107Southern California University of Health Sciences$45,84850%$70,649
108California Institute of the Arts$46,08067%$41,198
109Chapman University$46,55582%$70,070
110Loyola Marymount University$48,38179%$78,349
111Art Center College of Design$48,66179%$71,958
112Santa Clara University$50,06288%$109,183
113Otis College of Art and Design$51,24866%$58,152
114California College of the Arts$53,90961%$49,414
115Pepperdine University$58,09883%$82,939

College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All California colleges →

Why Art Center College of Design costs more or less than similar schools

SchoolAcceptanceYou'd payGraduationEarnings, 10 yrsPrice gap
Art Center College of Design75%$48,66179%$71,958This school
California Lutheran University76%$30,10970%$68,712
Westmont College77%$29,05370%$64,778
Dominican University of California84%$35,33378%$84,713
University of Redlands83%$30,03167%$72,690

College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.

Why the price is different

Art Center College of Design would cost you $18,552 more per year than California Lutheran University, on average.

  • Higher sticker price at Art Center College of Design.
  • California Lutheran University gives aided families $11,329 more in grants, on average.
Per year, California residentArt Center College of DesignCalifornia Lutheran UniversityDifference
Sticker price$75,649$68,426+$7,223
Average grants−$26,988−$38,317+$11,329
You pay$48,661$30,109+$18,552

“+” means Art Center College of Design costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.

Art Center College of Design cost questions

How much is tuition at Art Center College of Design?

Tuition and fees are $54,170 a year.

What is the total cost of attending Art Center College of Design?

The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $75,649 a year.

What do families actually pay at Art Center College of Design?

After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $48,661 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $39,645; $48–75k pay $44,738; $110k+ pay $61,144.

How much debt do Art Center College of Design graduates have?

The median federal loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and 3.2% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).

Is Art Center College of Design the right fit for your family?

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Art Center College of Design overview