Design and Applied Arts at Art Center College of Design

Art Center graduates earn nearly double the national median for design programs—$47,053 in the first year versus $33,563 nationally—and that advantage only grows, reaching $71,547 by year four. Among California's 55 design programs, this ranks in the 80th percentile, trailing only heavyweights like USC and UCLA. The $31,050 debt load is higher than the state median, but with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66, graduates can realistically pay this off within a couple of years of full-time work.

What's particularly striking is the earnings trajectory: a 52% jump from year one to year four suggests Art Center's industry connections and portfolio-building approach translate into genuine career acceleration, not just an initial bump. The school's reputation in professional design circles appears to open doors that justify the premium price tag.

The bottom line: if your child is serious about a design career—not just dabbling—Art Center delivers measurably better outcomes than nearly every other California option at a manageable debt level. This is one of the few art school investments where the numbers actually support the tuition.