Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Columbus College of Art & Design #1424 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $19,809 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Columbus College of Art & Design in the 5.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Columbus College of Art & Design #1395 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Columbus College of Art & Design #1424 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Columbus, Ohio, Columbus College of Art & Design enrolls roughly 882 undergraduates. Retention is 80.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 55.6%, reflecting solid completion rates for a specialized arts institution. Columbus College of Art & Design delivers strong return on investment for a design-focused college. Azimuth ranks Columbus College of Art & Design #1395 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $41,994, and Columbus College of Art & Design earn about $19,809 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 5.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in Visual & Performing Arts, where employers actively recruit and career pathways tend to reward specialized credentials and portfolio-driven hiring. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Columbus College of Art & Design sits in the 44.8 percentile for access and the 9.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a specialized arts college with a focused mission, Columbus College of Art & Design enrolls 39.2% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 24.6% first-generation students. The institution's tuition structure reflects the cost of specialized facilities, equipment, and faculty expertise in visual and performing arts — a premium that is offset for many students through need-based aid, though the sticker price remains a consideration for families weighing affordability.
Columbus College of Art & Design's published cost of attendance is $54,443. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $24,204, middle-income families pay around $27,534, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,114. Azimuth ranks Columbus College of Art & Design #1294 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. Columbus College of Art & Design participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. The college's affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap is essential when comparing institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $55,612; 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 $41,994, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Columbus College of Art & Design is a strong fit for students drawn to visual and performing arts who want a private nonprofit college experience in Columbus, OH. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $41,994, placing Columbus College of Art & Design in the 1.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $19,809 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 5.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 39.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 24.6% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Columbus College of Art & Design in the 25.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 67.7% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors visual and performing arts fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the country.
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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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Columbus College Of Art & Design 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.
Columbus College of Art & Design's published cost of attendance is $54,443. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $24,204, middle-income families pay around $27,534, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,114.
Azimuth ranks Columbus College of Art & Design #1294 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.
Columbus College of Art & Design participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages.
The college's affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap is essential when comparing institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $55,612; 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 $41,994, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 Columbus College of Art & Design earn median 4-year earnings of $41,994, placing Columbus College of Art & Design in the 1.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Columbus College of Art & Design sits in the 5.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Columbus College of Art & Design #1395 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Columbus College of Art & Design's concentrated focus on visual and performing arts.
Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 123 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $48,204, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Graphic Communications program graduates 44 students earning $33,389, and the The Film/Video and The Photographic Arts program graduates 18 students earning $43,661.
These programs anchor Columbus College of Art & Design's degree output and shape the institution's overall earnings profile, with outcomes reflecting both the creative-industry labor market and the scale of each program's graduate cohort.
Design and Applied Arts
123 graduates
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
18 graduates
Graphic Communications
44 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
13 graduates
Columbus College of Art & Design's program mix is anchored in visual and performing arts — a portfolio shaped by the institution's identity as a specialized design and art college. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 123 graduates, followed by Graphic Communications, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, and Fine and Studio Arts.
Across 4 programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, reflecting the institution's depth in creative and design-focused fields. The earnings pattern reflects the specialized nature of arts and design education.
Design and Applied Arts graduates earn median earnings of $48,204 four years after enrollment, while Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates earn $43,661 and Graphic Communications graduates earn $33,389. Design and Applied Arts, the institution's largest program with 123 graduates, generates median earnings of $48,204 four years after enrollment.
These outcomes reflect the creative industries' labor-market dynamics, where early-career earnings vary by specialization and market positioning. Columbus College of Art & Design's program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce creative pathways where graduates enter design, animation, illustration, and related fields immediately after completion.
The concentration in Visual & Performing Arts means that earnings outcomes correspond to creative-industry compensation patterns rather than broader professional fields. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how design and visual arts fields align with national labor-market demand and career trajectory expectations.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia College Chicago Higher acceptance rate (19.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 91% | $42,195 | Compare |
Stephens College Higher acceptance rate (19.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MO | 92% | $43,071 | Compare |
Ohio Christian University Same state (25 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | OH | 40% | $39,813 | Compare |
Gods Bible School And College Same state (100 miles away) with similar earnings; same institution type | OH | 64% | $37,722 | Compare |
Tiffin University Same state (80 miles away) (earnings difference: 11.6%); same institution type | OH | 80% | $35,942 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milwaukee Institute Of Art & Design Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36232 ranked) | WI | 61% | $41,174 | #36232 | Compare |
Hampshire College Similar quality tier (#36230 ranked) | MA | 75% | $46,938 | #36230 | Compare |
East Texas Baptist University Similar quality tier (#36235 ranked) | TX | 58% | $52,788 | #36235 | Compare |
Point University Similar quality tier (#36229 ranked) | GA | 44% | $38,740 | #36229 | Compare |
St. John's College Similar quality tier (#36238 ranked) | MD | 55% | $51,584 | #36238 | Compare |
