California College of the Arts — ROI, Cost & Payback
California College of the Arts charges a net price of $53,909/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $215,636. Graduates earn a median $49,414 ten years after entry, $1,054/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 204.6 years — a 20-year net return of -$194,556, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
California College of the Arts's 204.6-year payback ranks #1,254 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 2% of them, and #118 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $53,909/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $215,636 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,414 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,054/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 204.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$194,556 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on California College of the Arts's own numbers. Net price $53,909 × 4 years = $215,636 total. Median earnings $49,414 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,054 a year of premium. $215,636 ÷ $1,054 = 204.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$194,556. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do California College of the Arts students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 55% of the $49,414 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of California College of the Arts students graduate?
61% finish their degree — 39% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $215,636 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $353,502 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is California College of the Arts expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $53,909 net price runs $34,004 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $136,016 more across the full degree.