Art Center College of Design offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide variety of applied and visual arts, as well as public programs for all ages and skill levels. Renowned for its rigorous curriculum, ties to industry and social impact initiatives, Art Center is the first design school to receive the United Nations' Non-Governmental Organizations status.
Founded by a group of individuals who believed in the power of connecting "art to industry," project-based learning is a key element of Art Center's educational philosophy. Working in real-life settings tests and enhance student's proficiency in fundamental skills and exposes them to a wide range of disciplines.
Art Center's Transdisciplinary Studio (TDS) workshops combine upper-term students from different majors on projects requiring several areas of specialization. All of Art Center's TDS workshops have a Humanities and Design Sciences component and many are Sponsored Projects wherein students developed specific business ideas and strategies for corporate sponsors.
Beyond the corporate environment, Art Center partners with communities and organizations around the world to improve lives through art and design. This focus is the result of a significant College-wide initiatives, Designmatters and Artmatters, which address responsible business practices, social challenges and humanitarian needs.
Art Center's industrial design program is consistently ranked #1 by both Design-Intelligence and U.S. News & World Report and Business Week regularly features Art Center among the world's top design schools. U.S. News also ranks Art Center's art and media design programs in the top twenty Grad Schools.
Throughout the College's 80-year history, Art Center's alumni--a network of more than 18,000 artists and designers--have had a profound impact on popular culture, the way we live, and important issues in our society.
Hover over dots to see degrees offered and online availability.
MAJORS OFFERED:AdvertisingBachelors Degree
Entertainment DesignBachelors Degree
Environmental DesignBachelors Degree
Masters Degree
FilmBachelors Degree
Masters Degree
Fine ArtBachelors Degree
Masters Degree
Graphic DesignBachelors Degree
Masters Degree
IllustrationBachelors Degree
Industrial DesignMasters Degree
Interaction DesignBachelors Degree
Media Design PracticesMasters Degree
Photography and ImagingBachelors Degree
Product DesignBachelors Degree
Transportation DesignBachelors Degree
Masters Degree
| FULL-TIME | |
| TUITION | $ 50,606 |
| MANDATORY FEES | 1,034 |
| BOOKS & SUPPLIES | 4,000 |
| ON-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD | N/A |
| OFF-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD | 17,272 |
| OTHER | 6,984 |
| AID CATEGORY | AVG PER RECIPIENT | 1st YR RECIPIENTS |
| INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS3 | $13,634 | 98% |
| FEDERAL/NATIONAL GRANTS | 6,344 | 28% |
| STATE & LOCAL GRANTS | 7,958 | 15% |
| FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS | 5,192 | 50% |
AVERAGE AMOUNT RECEIVED PER RECIPIENT: $20,074
100% OF FULL-TIME FRESHMEN RECEIVED AID
* Most recent financial aid data available
Acceptance Rate = The percentage of students admitted out of applications received in a given year.
UNDERGRADUATE FTE1 = 1,961
UNDERGRADUATE
| FULL-TIME | 1,849 |
| PART-TIME | 286 |
NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc.
| APPLICATION: | Required |
| ONLINE APPLICATION: | Recommended |
| APPLICATION FEES: | $50 (approximate) |
| HOME EXAM: | Not Required |
| INTERVIEW: | Optional |
| ESSAY: | Required |
| SAT / ACT: | Required, if first-time freshman |
| PORTFOLIO: | Required |
| LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: | N/A |
| IELTS: | Required if English is a second language Minimum score 7 |
| TOEFL: | Required if English is a second language Minimum score 80 |
TRANSCRIPTS
| HIGH SCHOOL: | Required |
| COLLEGE: | Required, if transferring |
FACULTY FTE1 = 149
| FULL-TIME | 149 |
| PART-TIME | 0 |
STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: FALL 2022
15.0 TO 1
FTE STUDENTS PER FTE FACULTY1
FRESHMAN RETENTION
| FALL 2020 FRESHMEN RETURNING IN FALL 2021 |
85% |
| FALL 2021 FRESHMEN RETURNING IN FALL 2022 |
85% |
SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE
| FALL 2015 FRESHMEN GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS |
76% |
| FALL 2016 FRESHMEN GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS |
76% |
UNDERGRADUATE ETHNICITY
FALL 2022UNDERGRADUATE GENDER DISTRIBUTION
FALL 2022NEW STUDENT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION2
FALL 2022Art Center for Kids
Saturday High (for high school students)
Art Center at Night (non-degree college level)
Pre-college
Exchange Programs
Study Abroad Programs
Internships Facilitated and Encouraged
Designmatters Program
12 Diverse Student Organizations
Business Dialogue and Design Research Symposia
Over 200 Employers Visit Campus Annually to Interview Graduates for Positions
NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc. NOTE 2: Geographic distribution is reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates. NOTE 3: Includes all institutional scholarships and grants, but does not include College Work Study or third party awards.