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 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. 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.
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 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. 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.
Latest FE earnings field: 10-year
Lower quartile, 10-year field
Upper quartile, 10-year field
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 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. 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.
How graduate earnings grow across the currently available FE horizons.
Financial justification for the investment.
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 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. 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.
Program mix and student pathways explain much of the earnings story.
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 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.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
