Columbus College of Art & Design
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. earnings-to-debt ratio is tight. a private nonprofit school with 882 students.
About This School
Columbus College of Art & Design is a private nonprofit institution located in Columbus, Ohio with approximately 882 undergraduate students enrolled. Columbus College of Art & Design has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 68%. The average net price after financial aid is $29,439 per year. The graduation rate is 56%, and the typical graduate earns $39,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) is a private art school in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1879 as the Columbus Art School and is one of the oldest private art and design colleges in the United States. Located in downtown Columbus, CCAD's campus consists of 11 buildings on 9 acres (36,000 m2) and is adjacent to the Columbus Museum of Art. Approximately 900 full-time students are enrolled.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 61% graduation rate and median earnings of just $39,800 a decade out raise real questions about whether students are finishing and finding financial footing after graduation. That said, the $20,500 median debt is relatively modest for a private art school, and CCAD's downtown Columbus location — right next to the Columbus Museum of Art — offers genuine professional and creative connections that matter in the art and design world. Worth considering if you're serious about a studio-focused education and have a clear career plan, but go in with eyes open about the income-to-cost math.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 9% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | 132 | $48,204 | $51,490 | −$3,286 |
| Graphic Communications | 52 | $33,389 | $43,283 | −$9,894 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 16 | $32,061 | $41,367 | −$9,306 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 15 | $43,661 | $43,765 | −$104 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (882 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Columbus College of Art & Design is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Columbus College of Art & Design?
Columbus College of Art & Design has an acceptance rate of 68%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Columbus College of Art & Design hard to get into?
Columbus College of Art & Design is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 68%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does Columbus College of Art & Design cost?
The average net price at Columbus College of Art & Design is about $29,439 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Columbus College of Art & Design?
Columbus College of Art & Design has a graduation rate of 56%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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