Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degree) at Los Angeles Film School

Analysis

The Los Angeles Film School's design program saddles graduates with nearly double their first-year earnings in debt—$51,250 against median earnings of just $26,583. That's among the highest debt loads nationally for this program (95th percentile) while earnings rank in the bottom quarter both in California and nationwide. When other California design programs like USC and UCLA place graduates at $57,000-$65,000, and even mid-tier options produce $46,000-$51,000, this program's outcomes stand out for the wrong reasons.

The concerning part isn't just the weak starting earnings—it's that you're paying elite-level prices for bottom-tier results. The school serves a predominantly low-income population (65% receive Pell grants), yet graduates leave with debt loads twice the national median for design programs. Even accounting for Hollywood's cost of living, these numbers don't add up to a sound investment.

One important caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than usual. But unless your child has specific industry connections or a clear path to higher-earning creative work, the debt burden here is simply too steep relative to what graduates actually earn. Consider California public universities or community college transfer pathways that lead to UC design programs—the outcomes justify the investment far better.

Where Los Angeles Film School Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all design and applied arts bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Los Angeles Film School graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Design and Applied Arts bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (55 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Los Angeles Film SchoolHollywood	—	$26,583	—	$51,250	1.93
University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles	$68,237	$64,846	$56,391	$18,262	0.28
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles	$13,747	$57,615	$68,882	$20,000	0.35
Interior Designers InstituteNewport Beach	$20,250	$51,188	—	$28,655	0.56
Art Center College of DesignPasadena	$51,640	$47,053	$71,547	$31,050	0.66
Chapman UniversityOrange	$62,784	$46,519	$69,235	$23,000	0.49
National Median	—	$33,563	—	$26,880	0.80

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with design and applied arts graduates

Art Directors

Formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for visual productions and media, such as print, broadcasting, video, and film. Direct workers engaged in artwork or layout design.

$111,040/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

$99,800/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in architecture and architectural design, such as architectural environmental design, interior architecture/design, and landscape architecture. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in drama, music, and the arts including fine and applied art, such as painting and sculpture, or design and crafts. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Fashion Designers

Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.

$80,690/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Commercial and Industrial Designers

Design and develop manufactured products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

$79,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Set and Exhibit Designers

Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.

$66,280/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Interior Designers

Plan, design, and furnish the internal space of rooms or buildings. Design interior environments or create physical layouts that are practical, aesthetic, and conducive to the intended purposes. May specialize in a particular field, style, or phase of interior design.

$63,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Graphic Designers

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

$61,300/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Artists and Related Workers, All Other

All artists and related workers not listed separately.

$56,260/yrJobs growth:

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Los Angeles Film School, approximately 65% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 24 graduates with reported earnings and 31 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.