Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, CA 90045-3505
About Otis College of Art and Design
Otis College of Art and Design is a private research university in Los Angeles, California, enrolling about 1,223 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 81.76% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $58,152 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Otis College of Art and Design charges about 1.9× the national private non-profit median tuition ($56,488).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 7.0×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 66.30%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $58,152.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otis College of Art and Design | $56,488 | $51,248 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 9% below published tuition at Otis College of Art and Design
Key findings
- Otis College of Art and Design's average net price ($51,248) is 9% below published tuition ($56,488).
- Otis College of Art and Design charges about 1.9× the national private non-profit median tuition ($56,488).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 7.0×.
Otis College of Art and Design tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $56,488
Finding Otis College of Art and Design charges about 1.9× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $56,488. That is about 1.9× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 7.0×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 4.7×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Otis College of Art and Design versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Otis College of Art and Design versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Otis College of Art and Design is $51,248.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $51,248 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $42,905 above the California median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $31,195 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Otis College of Art and Design’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 9% lower after grants and scholarships.
Otis College of Art and Design: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Otis College of Art and Design—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$56,488
Avg. net price
$51,248
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $44,731 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $44,821 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $28,167 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $52,495 |
| $110,001+ | $60,718 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $225,952. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Otis College of Art and Design is known for
Top program completions
- Digital Arts105
- Design and Visual Communications, General51
- Fashion/Apparel Design37
- Fine/Studio Arts, General33
- Design and Applied Arts, Other24
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 11% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1310
- Midpoint ACT: 25
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Otis College of Art and Design a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Otis College of Art and Design is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Otis College of Art and Design.
Campus
Location
Los Angeles, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 90045-3505
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is about 2.6× the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting)
Size
Enrollment
1,223
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,271
- Graduate
- 43
- Full-time share
- 98%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$27,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 33.63%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Otis College of Art and Design.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Otis College of Art and Design was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Otis College of Art and Design in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $39,430 | $39,430 | $31,146 |
| 2014 | $40,490 | $40,490 | $33,908 |
| 2015 | $42,314 | $42,314 | $34,829 |
| 2016 | $44,020 | $44,020 | $36,113 |
| 2017 | $45,620 | $45,620 | $41,501 |
| 2018 | $46,860 | $46,860 | $42,253 |
| 2019 | $48,380 | $48,380 | $43,147 |
| 2020 | $49,680 | $49,680 | $45,026 |
| 2021 | $50,950 | $50,950 | $40,888 |
| 2022 | $52,460 | $52,460 | $44,792 |
| 2023 | $55,513 | $55,513 | $45,864 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1310 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 25 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.60
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Otis College of Art and Design reported total enrollment of about 1,223 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 29% male and 71% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (24.9%), Hispanic or Latino (23.4%), and Asian (18.7%). About 33.63% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 24.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
98.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Otis College of Art and Design in 2024 is 1,223 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,271 students. Graduate enrollment is about 43 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
74.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
50.00% 100% Completion Time
66.30% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 50.00% of students graduating from Otis College of Art and Design completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Digital Arts: 31% male / 69% female
- Design and Visual Communications, General: 20% male / 80% female
- Fashion/Apparel Design: 22% male / 78% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Otis College of Art and Design graduates earn a median of $58,152 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Otis College of Art and Design.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $58,152. Median federal loan debt: $27,000. Average net price used in cost models: $51,248.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Otis College of Art and Design graduates report median earnings of $58,152 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Otis College of Art and Design.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 8 programs by IPEDS completions (9 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Otis College of Art and Design.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Otis College of Art and Design graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Otis College of Art and Design—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$22.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- California median 1.2× the median ($19.7M)
- Far West median 1.4× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 0.86× the median ($26.4M)
- California median 2.5× the median ($7,407)
- Far West median 2.5× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 16.7%
- California median 22.6 pp below median (39.3%)
- Far West median 29.0 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 41.2 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,491
- California median 0.93× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median near the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $20,350
- California median 3.1× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 2.9× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 2.8× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Otis College of Art and Design at a glance
Otis College of Art and Design
Otis College of Art and Design is a private non-profit institution in Los Angeles, CA, classified as Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting).
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Digital ArtsDesign and Visual Communications, GeneralFashion/Apparel Design
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian24.9%Hispanic or Latino23.4%Asian18.7%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Otis College of Art and Design
Other campuses in Los Angeles, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Otis College of Art and Design located?
Otis College of Art and Design is located in Los Angeles, CA.
What is Otis College of Art and Design's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Otis College of Art and Design is 81.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,459 applicants and 2,065 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Otis College of Art and Design's tuition?
Otis College of Art and Design tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $56,488 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $51,248 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Otis College of Art and Design cost?
Reported tuition is $56,488 and average net price is $51,248 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $20,784 annually.
Why is Otis College of Art and Design's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Otis College of Art and Design, published tuition is $56,488 while average net price is $51,248—about 9% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Otis College of Art and Design's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($51,248), completion (66.3% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($58,152). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Otis College of Art and Design?
Otis College of Art and Design reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,271 students, White (24.9%), Hispanic or Latino (23.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Otis College of Art and Design?
About 24.2% of students at Otis College of Art and Design are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Otis College of Art and Design?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Otis College of Art and Design reports midpoint SAT about 1310 and midpoint ACT about 25.
What do graduates of Otis College of Art and Design earn?
Median earnings are $43,654 six years after entry and $58,152 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Otis College of Art and Design?
The 150%-time completion rate is 66.3% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Otis College of Art and Design students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.