Columbus College of Art & Design is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Columbus, Ohio. It enrolls 882 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
55/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes48
Value4
Affordability41
Selectivity66
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.7%, Columbus College of Art & Design is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.7%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Columbus College of Art & Design is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
21.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Columbus College of Art & Design isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $29,439 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,439
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
39%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
70%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$40,825
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,450
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,500
Books & Supplies
$5,050
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,855
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,855
Total Cost of Attendance
$54,443
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$24,204
$30,001 – $48,000
$27,218
$48,001 – $75,000
$27,534
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,717
Over $110,000
$33,114
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$9,74525%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$45,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,000
↓ $5,000
No Pell $19,500
↓ $7,500
Dependent students $20,490
↓ $6,510
Independent students $25,000
↓ $2,000
Female students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Male students $22,250
↓ $4,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
68% of full-time students who enrolled at Columbus College of Art & Design graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Columbus College of Art & Design earn a median of $40,664 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,664
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,700, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Columbus College of Art & Design is home to 882 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
882
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
25%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 66.4%586
Black 12.1%107
Hispanic 8.7%77
Other 4.2%37
Asian 4.1%36
International 0.5%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Columbus College of Art & Design. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityColumbus, Ohio
Housing
Mostly residential456 beds on campus
Adult Learners
7%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Columbus College of Art & Design offers
a focused set of programs:
6 distinct programs across
2 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbus College of Art & Design is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$61M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$51,682
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
60 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
21
35%
$59,721
Associate Professors
19
32%
$52,008
Assistant Professors
20
33%
$42,929
Pros & Cons of Columbus College of Art & Design
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Columbus College of Art & Design tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Columbus College of Art & Design is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Columbus College of Art & Design
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Columbus College of Art & Design.
Is Columbus College of Art & Design hard to get into?
Admissions at Columbus College of Art & Design are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.7%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Columbus College of Art & Design?
Columbus College of Art & Design has an acceptance rate of 67.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Columbus College of Art & Design cost?
The average net price after aid at Columbus College of Art & Design is $29,439 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Columbus College of Art & Design worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,664 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,439 per year. That's roughly 1.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Columbus College of Art & Design known for?
Columbus College of Art & Design is best known for its programs in Design, Graphic Communications, Fine Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Columbus College of Art & Design graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Columbus College of Art & Design are $40,664, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Columbus College of Art & Design accredited?
Yes. Columbus College of Art & Design is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Columbus College of Art & Design?
Columbus College of Art & Design enrolls 882 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Columbus College of Art & Design?
Columbus College of Art & Design graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Columbus College of Art & Design a public or private college?
Columbus College of Art & Design is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Columbus College of Art & Design located?
Columbus College of Art & Design is located in Columbus, Ohio.
What programs does Columbus College of Art & Design offer?
Columbus College of Art & Design offers 6 distinct programs. The most popular include Design, Graphic Communications, Fine Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Columbus College of Art & Design?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbus College of Art & Design is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Ohio
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