Fine and Studio Arts bachelor's degree outcomes at California College of the Arts

San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · Federal field 5007

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are close to the same-degree benchmark.

$2,645 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 66.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −102% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+93%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$17,690 → $34,104

28Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

39Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

55Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

73Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$20,000Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$53,909

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$29,250

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$44,012

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$310/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$53,909Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$79,776Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE91.1%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE61.2%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$17,690Year 1

$44,012Year 4

$34,104Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

8.5% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$3,668

Estimated loan payment$310

73borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$44,012 vs. $41,367

$2,645 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$99,410 median wageCA estimate · 9,820 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeCraft Artists$100,540 median wageCA estimate · 170 jobs · 27-1012+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialFine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators$58,240 median wageCA estimate · 2,560 jobs · 27-1013-2.9% projected U.S. growth · 2.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$130,540 median wageCA estimate · 7,410 jobs · 27-1014-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeJewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$60,790 median wageCA estimate · 2,300 jobs · 51-9071-3.2% projected U.S. growth · 3.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalentArtists and Related Workers, All Other$60,540 median wageCA estimate · 740 jobs · 27-1019+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialArt Directors$137,780 median wageCA estimate · 12,430 jobs · 27-1011+4.2% projected U.S. growth · 12.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSecondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$101,370 median wageCA estimate · 99,230 jobs · 25-2031-0.2% projected U.S. growth · 63.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCurators$78,740 median wageCA estimate · 1,140 jobs · 25-4012+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 1.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeArchivists$70,530 median wageCA estimate · 1,160 jobs · 25-4011+3.4% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeMuseum Technicians and Conservators$61,550 median wageCA estimate · 1,610 jobs · 25-4013+3.6% projected U.S. growth · 1.6k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePhotographers$47,840 median wageCA estimate · 7,980 jobs · 27-4021-0.7% projected U.S. growth · 10.7k openings/yrTypical entry: High school diploma or equivalent

Possible alternatives