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California Institute Of The Arts Programs & Rankings

Outcomes-based program rankings.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 194 students annually, the institution's earnings distribution reflects the creative-industries labor market where compensation varies widely by specialization and career trajectory. The highest-earning programs at California Institute of the Arts include Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft with 31 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,192, Music with 39 graduates earning $40,294, Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 21 graduates earning $29,426, and Fine and Studio Arts with 17 graduates earning $28,617.

These programs represent the institution's strongest early-career earnings outcomes and reflect specializations where graduates move directly into creative and technical professional roles. Many of California Institute of the Arts's programs are pathway-dependent, where four-year earnings reflect early career positioning in creative fields but do not fully capture lifetime trajectory — particularly for graduates who transition into directing, producing, or independent creative practice over time.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-industries fields align with labor-market demand and career-longevity patterns. For students evaluating California Institute of the Arts, the earnings figures reflect entry-level and early-career compensation in creative sectors; long-term financial outcomes depend significantly on individual career choices, portfolio development, and market positioning within the creative industries.

Analyzing 6 programs with available earnings data.

Notable Programs

Highest Earnings

Design and Applied Arts

$50K

Largest Enrollment

Music

recent graduates

Program Insights

Top Ranked Programs

California Institute of the Arts concentrates its program portfolio in visual and performing arts — a defining institutional signature that shapes both the student experience and career outcomes. Graphic Communications is the largest program with 54 graduates, followed by Music with 39 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,294, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft with 31 graduates earning $41,192, Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 21 graduates earning $29,426, and Fine and Studio Arts with 17 graduates earning $28,617. Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 194 students annually, the institution's earnings distribution reflects the creative-industries labor market where compensation varies widely by specialization and career trajectory. The highest-earning programs at California Institute of the Arts include Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft with 31 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,192, Music with 39 graduates earning $40,294, Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 21 graduates earning $29,426, and Fine and Studio Arts with 17 graduates earning $28,617. These programs represent the institution's strongest early-career earnings outcomes and reflect specializations where graduates move directly into creative and technical professional roles. Many of California Institute of the Arts's programs are pathway-dependent, where four-year earnings reflect early career positioning in creative fields but do not fully capture lifetime trajectory — particularly for graduates who transition into directing, producing, or independent creative practice over time. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-industries fields align with labor-market demand and career-longevity patterns. For students evaluating California Institute of the Arts, the earnings figures reflect entry-level and early-career compensation in creative sectors; long-term financial outcomes depend significantly on individual career choices, portfolio development, and market positioning within the creative industries.

Earnings Distribution (10yr)Across 6 programs

Median: $40K

$15KLowest

$50KHighest

$0$63K$125K$188K$250K

This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.

The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.

These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at California Institute Of The Arts.

Humanities & Arts

$34K avg

6 programs

💡

Design and Applied Arts leads humanities & arts with 50K in median earnings.

Program	National Rank	Median Earnings	Median Debt	Cohort Size
Design and Applied ArtsSmall sample	—	$49,840★	—	15
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft	—	$41,192

How We Rank Programs

Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.