ArtCenter: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Art Center College of Design · Pasadena, California · Private nonprofit · Open access · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- 1,354
- Applicants
- 1,068
- Admitted79%
- —
- Enrolled
- 28%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access79% admittedRanked #17 (tie) in Regional Universities WestU.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Art Center College of Design (see the source), read on 2026-09-24.
Is ArtCenter a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places ArtCenter against it in about a minute. No account needed.
ArtCenter is a private nonprofit university in Pasadena, California that admits about 79% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $48,661 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Design and Applied Arts, Engineering-Related Fields and Graphic Communications, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 0.0 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
ArtCenter is a private institution located in Pasadena, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, ArtCenter admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 79%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $48,661 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for ArtCenter?
ArtCenter has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
Compare ArtCenter with the other schools on your list
Open ArtCenter in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
SAT and ACT scores ArtCenter typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
How much does ArtCenter actually cost?
Published tuition is $54,170 for in-state students and $54,170 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $48,661 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 22% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $48,661 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
Application deadlines and early decision data for ArtCenter
Most popular majors at ArtCenter
The most popular undergraduate programs at ArtCenter, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Design and Applied Arts, Engineering-Related Fields and Graphic Communications. Across all programs, ArtCenter confers roughly 498 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Design and Applied Arts program report a median income of about $81,385 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 228 | $81,385 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 70 | n/a |
| Graphic Communications | 62 | n/a |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 47 | $33,995 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 34 | n/a |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 22 | n/a |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | 21 | n/a |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 14 | n/a |
Is ArtCenter safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), ArtCenter disclosed 0 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 0.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 0 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- California Institute of the Arts32% acceptance
- Whittier College81% acceptance
- Stanford University4% acceptance
- University of California-Berkeley11% acceptance
- University of California-Los Angeles9% acceptance
- University of Southern California10% acceptance
- University of California-Davis42% acceptance
- University of California-Irvine29% acceptance
Next steps for ArtCenter
Common questions parents ask about ArtCenter
What GPA do I need for ArtCenter?
ArtCenter has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does ArtCenter typically admit?
ArtCenter does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does ArtCenter actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at ArtCenter after grants and scholarships is $48,661 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $54,170. Budget against the net figure.
Is ArtCenter realistic for my child?
ArtCenter admits 79% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $48,661 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at ArtCenter?
ArtCenter accepts about 79% of applicants out of roughly 1,354 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is ArtCenter a public or private school, and where is it located?
ArtCenter is a private nonprofit institution located in Pasadena, California.
What are the most popular majors at ArtCenter?
The largest undergraduate majors at ArtCenter by annual graduates are Design and Applied Arts, Engineering-Related Fields and Graphic Communications. The school awards about 498 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is ArtCenter safe? What is its campus crime rate?
ArtCenter reported 0 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 0.0 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Art Center College of Design, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers