Otis College of Art and Design is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Los Angeles, California. It enrolls 1,223 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.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
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.
Fair
53/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes53
Value2
Affordability27
Selectivity55
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 81.8%, Otis College of Art and Design is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
81.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1265 – 1395
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Otis College of Art and Design is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Otis College of Art and 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 $51,248 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$51,248
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
44%
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
$56,488
Room & Board (on-campus)
$20,784
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,213
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,968
Total Cost of Attendance
$75,861
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
$44,731
$30,001 – $48,000
$44,821
$48,001 – $75,000
$28,167
$75,001 – $110,000
$52,495
Over $110,000
$60,718
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
$12,11625%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$40,00090%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 $22,900
↓ $4,100
No Pell $13,000
↓ $14,000
Dependent students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Independent students $25,000
↓ $2,000
Female students $20,000
↓ $7,000
Male students $19,750
↓ $7,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at Otis College of Art and Design graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Otis College of Art and Design earn a median of $58,152 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,152
Earning > $25K
69%
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
$48,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$51,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$57,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,700, about 17% 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 ↑
10.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Otis College of Art and Design is home to 1,223 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,223
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 24.9%305
Hispanic 23.4%286
Asian 18.7%229
International 18.6%228
Other 7.1%87
Black 6.1%74
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Otis College of Art and Design. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityLos Angeles, California
Housing
Partly residential407 beds available
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Otis College of Art and 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 Otis College of Art and Design is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$73M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$82,309
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
53 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
16
30%
$89,029
Associate Professors
19
36%
$82,543
Assistant Professors
18
34%
$76,089
Pros & Cons of Otis College of Art and Design
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Otis College of Art and Design tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, Otis College of Art and Design is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Otis College of Art and Design
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Otis College of Art and Design.
Is Otis College of Art and Design hard to get into?
Otis College of Art and Design has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 81.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at Otis College of Art and Design?
Otis College of Art and Design has an acceptance rate of 81.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Otis College of Art and Design?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Otis College of Art and Design scored between 1265 and 1395 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Otis College of Art and Design cost?
The average net price after aid at Otis College of Art and Design is $51,248 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Otis College of Art and Design worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,152 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $51,248 per year. That's roughly 1.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Otis College of Art and Design known for?
Otis College of Art and Design is best known for its programs in Visual & Performing Arts, Design, Fine Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Otis College of Art and Design graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Otis College of Art and Design are $58,152, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Otis College of Art and Design accredited?
Yes. Otis College of Art and Design is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Otis College of Art and Design?
Otis College of Art and Design enrolls 1,223 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Otis College of Art and Design?
Otis College of Art and Design graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Otis College of Art and Design a public or private college?
Otis College of Art and Design is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Otis College of Art and Design located?
Otis College of Art and Design is located in Los Angeles, California.
What programs does Otis College of Art and Design offer?
Otis College of Art and Design offers 6 distinct programs. The most popular include Visual & Performing Arts, Design, Fine Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Otis College of Art and Design?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Otis College of Art and Design is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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