Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks College For Creative Studies #1452 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,313 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing College For Creative Studies in the 13.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks College For Creative Studies #1230 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- College For Creative Studies's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across multiple pillars, anchored by earnings that outperform expectations for similar students. Graduates see meaningful financial returns that place the institution in the top quartile nationally for both expected and actual earnings.
Azimuth ranks College For Creative Studies #1452 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Detroit, Michigan, College For Creative Studies enrolls roughly 1,230 undergraduates. Retention is 82.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 70.6%, reflecting strong persistence and completion outcomes for a specialized arts institution. College For Creative Studies anchors its composite strength in return on investment. Azimuth ranks College For Creative Studies #1230 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,659, and earn about $13,313 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing College For Creative Studies in the 13.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance is notable for a specialized arts college, where career pathways often diverge widely by discipline and individual creative direction. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. 30.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.8% are first-generation college students — figures that reflect College For Creative Studies's positioning as a tuition-dependent private institution focused on arts education. Azimuth ranks College For Creative Studies in the 12.6 percentile for access and the 4.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program family — Visual & Performing Arts — drives both the institution's distinctive mission and the earnings outcomes that support its overall composite rank, even as the specialized focus shapes the breadth of access and the cost structure relative to broader private institutions.
College For Creative Studies' published cost of attendance is $66,014. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $30,267, middle-income families pay around $33,647, and higher-income families pay approximately $38,580. Azimuth ranks College For Creative Studies #1365 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The college's financial aid structure combines need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal loan programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the college works to bridge the gap between cost of attendance and demonstrated financial need through a combination of institutional aid and federal aid programs. Understanding the relationship between net price and sticker price can help families evaluate the true out-of-pocket cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $73,420; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,659, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
College for Creative Studies is a strong fit for students pursuing careers in visual and performing arts who want a specialized private college experience in Detroit, MI. The institution's concentrated focus on Visual & Performing Arts — representing 40% of degrees — provides depth in creative fields that many comprehensive universities lack. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $47,659, placing College For Creative Studies in the 9.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $13,313 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 13.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure supports students from diverse backgrounds — 30.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.8% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $38,580, with median federal debt at graduation of $26,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 91.9% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors creative disciplines over traditional academic fields. Students whose passions align with visual and performing arts will find focused training and industry connections in Detroit's growing creative economy.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the College For Creative Studies hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
College For Creative Studies' published cost of attendance is $66,014. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $30,267, middle-income families pay around $33,647, and higher-income families pay approximately $38,580.
Azimuth ranks College For Creative Studies #1365 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
The college's financial aid structure combines need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal loan programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the college works to bridge the gap between cost of attendance and demonstrated financial need through a combination of institutional aid and federal aid programs.
Understanding the relationship between [net price and sticker price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) can help families evaluate the true out-of-pocket cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $73,420; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $47,659, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of College For Creative Studies earn median 4-year earnings of $47,659, placing College For Creative Studies in the 9.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,313 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing College For Creative Studies in the 13.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks College For Creative Studies #1230 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's concentrated focus on visual and performing arts, where creative professionals often see earnings growth accelerate in the mid-career years as portfolios mature and industry networks deepen.
The earnings pattern is anchored in Visual & Performing Arts. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 86 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $61,222, which is 1.2× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Drafting and Design Engineering and Graphic Communications round out the top programs, with Graphic Communications graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $34,003 — 0.8× the national benchmark. Computer Software and Film/Video and Photographic Arts complete the institution's core portfolio, each serving 26 and 13 graduates respectively.
As a specialized creative institution, College For Creative Studies graduates a focused cohort each year, which concentrates employer recruitment and alumni network strength within the design, fine arts, and performing arts sectors.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Valley Forge Similar quality tier (#36250 ranked) | PA | 61% | $39,016 | #36250 | Compare |
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science Similar quality tier (#36254 ranked) | NY | 77% | $46,145 | #36254 | Compare |
Corban University Similar quality tier (#36249 ranked) | OR | 94% | $48,917 | #36249 | Compare |
Blue Mountain Christian University Similar quality tier (#36248 ranked) | MS | 89% | $40,421 | #36248 | Compare |
University Of Puget Sound Similar quality tier (#36247 ranked) | WA | 72% | $69,594 | #36247 | Compare |
Design and Applied Arts
86 graduates
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry
9 graduates
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
13 graduates
Graphic Communications
72 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
10 graduates
College For Creative Studies' program mix concentrates in visual and performing arts, design, and media production—a portfolio shaped by the institution's identity as a specialized creative university in Detroit. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 86 graduates, followed by Drafting and Design Engineering, Graphic Communications, Computer Software, and Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 298 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with creative-industry demand. The highest-earning programs reflect the institution's strength in specialized creative and technical fields.
Design and Applied Arts leads with median earnings of $61,222 four years after enrollment from 86 graduates, followed by Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry with median earnings of $41,739 from 9 graduates and Film/Video and Photographic Arts with median earnings of $35,797 from 13 graduates. Graphic Communications rounds out the top earners with median earnings of $34,003 from 72 graduates.
These outcomes reflect the direct-to-workforce pathway typical of creative-technology and design fields, where graduates enter the creative industries, media production, and design-adjacent sectors immediately after completion. College For Creative Studies' program signature aligns with Detroit's growing creative economy and national demand for specialized design and media talent.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families position graduates within broader labor-market trends. As a specialized creative institution, the university concentrates its offerings in fields where hands-on training, portfolio development, and industry connections directly translate to employment outcomes.
