Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Otis College of Art and Design #1445 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn in the 27.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, earn about $7,675 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Otis College of Art and Design #1116 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Otis College of Art and Design #1445 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Los Angeles, CA, Otis College of Art and Design enrolls roughly 1,223 undergraduates. Retention is 74.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 66.3%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a specialized arts institution. Where Otis College of Art and Design performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Otis College of Art and Design #1116 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,675 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Otis College of Art and Design in the 27.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance is notable for an institution centered on Visual & Performing Arts, where career pathways often emphasize creative practice and portfolio-building over conventional salary trajectories. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Otis College of Art and Design sits in the 27.5 percentile for access and the 0.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 33.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 24.2% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body drawn primarily from families with higher incomes and prior college experience. Mobility outcomes sit in the 53.1 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve earnings gains relative to similar students at comparable institutions, the institution's access profile limits the scale of low-income student mobility it can support.
Otis College of Art and Design's published cost of attendance is $75,861. Net price by income band varies substantially across the income spectrum: low-income families see a net price of approximately $44,731, middle-income families pay around $28,167, and higher-income families pay approximately $60,718. Azimuth ranks Otis College of Art and Design #1413 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The 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 matters when comparing institutions. Need-based aid forms the foundation of Otis College of Art and Design's financial aid structure. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs. Individual aid packages vary within each income band, so some families pay more and some less than the figures shown above. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $48,857; 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 Otis College of Art and Design's median four-year earnings of $50,900, 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.
Otis College of Art and Design is a strong fit for students drawn to visual and performing arts who want a private art and design college experience in CA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $50,900, placing Otis College of Art and Design in the 11.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $7,675 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Otis College of Art and Design in the 27.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 33.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 24.2% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $60,718, and median federal debt at graduation is $27,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 81.8% 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 strong outcomes in the arts.
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 Otis College Of Art And 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.
Otis College of Art and Design's published cost of attendance is $75,861. Net price by income band varies substantially across the income spectrum: low-income families see a net price of approximately $44,731, middle-income families pay around $28,167, and higher-income families pay approximately $60,718.
Azimuth ranks Otis College of Art and Design #1413 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The 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 matters when comparing institutions.
Need-based aid forms the foundation of Otis College of Art and Design's financial aid structure. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid programs.
Individual aid packages vary within each income band, so some families pay more and some less than the figures shown above. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $48,857; 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 Otis College of Art and Design's median four-year earnings of $50,900, 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 Otis College of Art and Design earn median 4-year earnings of $50,900, placing Otis College of Art and Design in the 11.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,675 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Otis College of Art and Design in the 27.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Otis College of Art and Design #1116 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Otis College of Art and Design's concentration in visual and performing arts fields.
Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 123 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $55,891, performing at 1.1× the national benchmark for the field. The Visual and Performing Arts program graduates 90 students with median 4-year earnings of $47,220, and the The Fine and The Studio Arts program graduates 27 students with median 4-year earnings of $38,997.
These outcomes correspond to the institution's specialized mission in design and creative practice, where early-career earnings reflect entry into creative industries and freelance pathways that typically show earnings growth over time.
Design and Applied Arts
123 graduates
Visual and Performing Arts, General
90 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
27 graduates
Otis College of Art and Design anchors its program portfolio in visual and performing arts, a signature that shapes both its academic identity and graduate outcomes. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 123 graduates, followed by Visual and Performing Arts with 90 graduates and Fine and Studio Arts with 27 graduates.
Across 4 programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, concentrating strength in creative and design-intensive fields where four-year earnings reflect direct labor-market entry into creative industries. Design and Applied Arts leads earnings outcomes at $55,891 four years after enrollment, with 123 graduates.
Visual and Performing Arts follows with graduates earning $47,220 and a cohort of 90, while Fine and Studio Arts delivers median earnings of $38,997 with 27 graduates. These earnings patterns reflect the institution's positioning as a specialized arts and design college where graduate outcomes depend heavily on portfolio strength, industry connections, and individual creative trajectory rather than broad institutional scale.
The concentration in Visual & Performing Arts means four-year earnings outcomes at Otis College of Art and Design differ meaningfully from comprehensive universities with larger STEM or business footprints. Graduates in creative fields often enter freelance, project-based, or early-stage career paths where initial earnings may undercount long-term creative and entrepreneurial upside.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-industry pathways align with national labor-market trends and career-trajectory patterns specific to design and arts fields.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coker University Similar quality tier (#36211 ranked) | SC | 94% | $40,117 | #36211 | Compare |
California College Of The Arts Similar quality tier in West (#36216 ranked) | CA | 91% | $49,414 | #36216 | Compare |
Defiance College Similar quality tier (#36210 ranked) | OH | 48% | $49,351 | #36210 | Compare |
Edp University Of Puerto Rico-Manati Similar quality tier (#36209 ranked) | PR | 68% | $22,844 | #36209 | Compare |
Montreat College Similar quality tier (#36208 ranked) | NC | 69% | $45,151 | #36208 | Compare |
