Fine and Studio Arts at California College of the Arts

California College of the Arts graduates earn substantially less than typical art school graduates—landing in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among California schools. That first-year figure of $17,690 falls below the poverty line for a single person in San Francisco, while the median debt of $29,250 exceeds what peers at most California art programs carry (state median: $17,500).

The 81% earnings jump to $32,089 by year four shows eventual progress, but this still trails similar programs at Cal Poly SLO ($36,006) and Cal State East Bay ($33,220)—public schools that typically cost far less. Even among arts programs, which rarely promise high earnings, this combination of below-average income and above-average debt stands out. For context, the typical California fine arts graduate starts at $22,129 with less debt burden.

This program makes sense only for students with significant family financial support or who can attend with minimal borrowing. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.65 means graduates start owing nearly two years' income—a heavy burden when living costs in the Bay Area are among the nation's highest. Families should seriously consider whether the specific connections or instruction here justify paying substantially more than California's public universities for comparable or better post-graduation outcomes.