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Art Center College of Design

Overview

At a Glance

School type

Private, not-for-profit, 4-year or above

School Size & Setting

Medium | Urban

Students-to-Faculty Ratio

5:1

Religious affliation

Not applicable

Mission Statement

To provide the best art and design education experience through a multi-faceted program of transdisciplinary studies and real-world relevance. To train top art and design professionals who will harness the power of their disciplines to become business and industry leaders capable of catalyzing positive change in the world.

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cost & financial aid

Annual tuition & fees

Undergraduate

In state

$48,044

Out of state

$48,044
Graduate

In state

$50,734

Out of state

$50,734

Financial Aid: Undergraduates

Received financial aid
67%
Type of aid % of students receiving aid Average amount
Federal grants 18.0% $6,107
State/local grants 14.0% $8,859
Institutional grants 64.0% $13,942
Loans 39.0% $7,086

Other Estimated Costs

Housing

$. per year

Books & Supplies

$4,000 per year

Personal Expenses

$. per year

Financial aid resources

Paying for college

Learn about different ways to cover costs, incluing financial aid, GI Bills, grants and scholarships

Applying for financial Aid

Review this step-by-step guide on everything you need to do to complete your application.

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Academics

Most Popular Undergraduate majors

  • Illustration
  • Graphic Design
  • Engineering-Related Fields, Other
  • Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
  • Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
Full List of Majors

Undergraduate Majors X

  • ARCHITECTURE AND RELATED SERVICES
    • Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology
      • A program that focuses on the application of advanced technology to building design and construction, retrofitting existing buildings, and efficient operation of buildings, including lighting and daylight design, acoustics, solar design, building conservation, and energy-conscious design. Includes instruction in architecture, building technology, civil and structural engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental control systems, sustainability, and computer tools and applications. See other colleges that offer this major
  • COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS AND SUPPORT SERVICES
    • Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects
      • A program that prepares individuals to use computer applications and related visual and sound imaging techniques to manipulate images and information originating as film, video, still photographs, digital copy, soundtracks, and physical objects in order to communicate messages simulating real-world content. Includes instruction in specialized camerawork and equipment operation and maintenance, image capture, computer programming, dubbing, CAD applications, and applications to specific commercial, industrial, and entertainment needs. See other colleges that offer this major
  • COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES
  • ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS
    • Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in developing, manufacturing and testing self-propelled ground vehicles and their systems. Includes instruction in vehicular systems technology, design and development testing, prototype and operational testing, inspection and maintenance procedures, instrument calibration, test equipment operation and maintenance, and report preparation. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Engineering-Related Fields, Other
  • VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
    • Commercial and Advertising Art
      • A program in the applied visual arts that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to effectively communicate ideas and information to business and consumer audiences via illustrations and other forms of digital or printed media. Includes instruction in concept design, layout, paste-up, and techniques such as engraving, etching, silkscreen, lithography, offset, drawing and cartooning, painting, collage, and computer graphics. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Graphic Design
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic and computer techniques to the interpretation of technical and commercial concepts. Includes instruction in computer-assisted art and design, printmaking, concepts sketching, technical drawing, color theory, imaging, studio technique, still and life modeling, multimedia applications, communication skills and commercial art business operations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Illustration
      • A program that prepares individuals to use artistic techniques to develop and execute interpretations of the concepts of authors and designers to specifications. Includes instruction in book illustration, fashion illustration, map illustration, rendering, exhibit preparation, textual layout, cartooning, and the use of various artistic techniques as requested by clients. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Cinematography and Film/Video Production
      • A program that prepares individuals to communicate dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the making and producing of films and videos. Includes instruction in theory of film, film technology and equipment operation, film production, film directing, film editing, cinematographic art, film audio, techniques for making specific types of films and/or videos, media technologies, computer image making, multi-media production, and the planning and management of film/video operations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Photography
      • A program that focuses on the principles and techniques of communicating information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the creation of images on photographic film, plates, and digital images and that may prepare individuals to be professional photographic artists. Includes instruction in camera and equipment operation and maintenance, film and plate developing, light and composition, films and printing media, color and special effects, photographic art, photographic history, use of computer applications to record or enhance images and applications to the photography of various subjects. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Fine/Studio Arts, General
      • A program that prepares individuals to generally function as creative artists in the visual and plastic media. Includes instruction in the traditional fine arts media (drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, CAD/CAM) and/or modern media (ceramics, textiles, intermedia, photography, digital images), theory of art, color theory, composition and perspective, anatomy, the techniques and procedures for maintaining equipment and managing a studio, and art portfolio marketing. See other colleges that offer this major

Most Popular Graduate programs

  • Graphic Design
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production
  • Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology
  • Engineering-Related Fields, Other
Full List of Programs

Graduate ProgramsX

  • ARCHITECTURE AND RELATED SERVICES
    • Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology
      • A program that focuses on the application of advanced technology to building design and construction, retrofitting existing buildings, and efficient operation of buildings, including lighting and daylight design, acoustics, solar design, building conservation, and energy-conscious design. Includes instruction in architecture, building technology, civil and structural engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental control systems, sustainability, and computer tools and applications. See other colleges that offer this major
  • COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES
  • ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-RELATED TECHNOLOGIES/TECHNICIANS
    • Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineers and other professionals engaged in developing, manufacturing and testing self-propelled ground vehicles and their systems. Includes instruction in vehicular systems technology, design and development testing, prototype and operational testing, inspection and maintenance procedures, instrument calibration, test equipment operation and maintenance, and report preparation. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Engineering-Related Fields, Other
  • VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
    • Graphic Design
      • A program that prepares individuals to apply artistic and computer techniques to the interpretation of technical and commercial concepts. Includes instruction in computer-assisted art and design, printmaking, concepts sketching, technical drawing, color theory, imaging, studio technique, still and life modeling, multimedia applications, communication skills and commercial art business operations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Cinematography and Film/Video Production
      • A program that prepares individuals to communicate dramatic information, ideas, moods, and feelings through the making and producing of films and videos. Includes instruction in theory of film, film technology and equipment operation, film production, film directing, film editing, cinematographic art, film audio, techniques for making specific types of films and/or videos, media technologies, computer image making, multi-media production, and the planning and management of film/video operations. See other colleges that offer this major
    • Fine/Studio Arts, General
      • A program that prepares individuals to generally function as creative artists in the visual and plastic media. Includes instruction in the traditional fine arts media (drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, CAD/CAM) and/or modern media (ceramics, textiles, intermedia, photography, digital images), theory of art, color theory, composition and perspective, anatomy, the techniques and procedures for maintaining equipment and managing a studio, and art portfolio marketing. See other colleges that offer this major
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Admissions

Undergraduate acceptance rate

Acceptance rate
75.56%
  • Apply 982
  • Accepted 742
  • Attend 269

Application Fee

Undergraduate
$50
Graduate
$50

Undergraduate application requirements

  • High school transcript

    Required
  • High school GPA

    Recommended
  • Recommendation letter

    Not applicable
  • Admissions test
    (SAT or ACT)

    Not applicable
  • TOEFL
    (international students)

    Required
  • Completion of college
    prep program

    Recommended
  • Demonstration of
    competencies

    Required
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Student Life

Student Demographics

Female Students
58%
Male Students
42%

Student Ethnicities
  1. Two Or More Ethnicities48.33%
  2. Asian28.72%
  3. Caucasian12.51%
  4. Hispanic/Latino8.54%
  5. Black1.6%
  6. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander0.26%
  7. American Indian/Alaska Native0.04%

Student body breakdown

Total students enrolled

3,050

Undergraduate students

2,722

Graduate students

328

Full Time Students
86%
Part Time Students
14%

Student services

  • Meal plan
  • Counseling services
  • Remedial services
  • Work-study
  • Placement services
  • Study abroad
  • Weekend/evening classes
  • On-campus day care for student's children
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