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Pasadena , CA
Art Center College of Design, located in Pasadena, California, is a renowned institution dedicated to providing excellence in art and design education. Founded in 1930, it has a rich history of producing influential designers and artists who have made significant contributions to various industries. The college offers a wide range of programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields such as industrial design, graphic design, film, transportation design, and more.
At Art Center, students are exposed to a rigorous curriculum centered around hands-on learning and practical experiences. The college emphasizes the development of both technical skills and creative thinking, aiming to produce graduates who are well-rounded and equipped to tackle real-world challenges. The faculty comprises experienced professionals who are experts in their respective fields and bring a wealth of industry knowledge to the classroom.
Art Center's campus is a vibrant and inspiring environment that nurtures creativity and fosters collaboration. With state-of-the-art facilities and high-tech resources, students have access to cutting-edge tools and equipment to bring their visions to life. The college also has strong ties to the creative industry, providing students with numerous networking and internship opportunities, helping them forge connections and launch their careers in the competitive art and design industry. Overall, Art Center College of Design is a highly respected institution that continues to produce talented and innovative artists and designers who shape the future of visual communication, innovation, and creativity.
Art Center College of Design is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Pasadena, CA and set in a suburban environment. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 76%. The freshman retention rate at Art Center College of Design is 86% and the six-year graduation rate is 79%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is September 14. Read more about what Art Center College of Design has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
2,040
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$55,182
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
79%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Art Center College of Design and what are the admission requirements?
In 2025, the school accepted 1,113 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, Art Center College of Design provides a unique educational experience.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.84. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to Art Center College of Design is September 14.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Art Center College of Design was 86%, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 79%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 2,310 students.
That year, the school had 19% of out-of-state students. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,040, 891 of which were international students. 98 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 787 male and 1,259 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. 100 full-time graduate men and 106 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 603 Asian students and 24 Afro-American students in 2025. 187 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 94 as multirace. The school also had 4 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 1 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 9 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into account. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Art Center College of Design? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $55,182 for all full-time domestic students. Art Center College of Design is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $1,126 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important expense. The estimated cost of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $4,000.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Art Center College of Design was $20,224 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school added up to $13,528, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $13,528.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 55,182 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,224 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 4,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 79,406 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial help for students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at Art Center College of Design.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Art Center College of Design is available to international students.
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Art Center College of Design was 9:1: that means 9 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio.
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Art Center College of Design: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Art Center College of Design.
It has a campus size of 163 acres.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 61 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The student organization that is most favored by students is Fine Art Society, followed by Art Center Business Club and Stop Motion Club. Other popular organizations at Art Center College of Design are Christian Fellowship and ACSG.
Student Services
At Art Center College of Design, there are many amenities required for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
All in all, campus life at Art Center College of Design is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Art Center College of Design.
Career Counselling
At Art Center College of Design, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career.
FAQ
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Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA.
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Art Center College of Design offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Art Center College of Design is 55,182 USD a year.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Art Center College of Design is 76%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Art Center College of Design is 86%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.