Otis College of Art and Design — ROI, Cost & Payback
Otis College of Art and Design charges a net price of $51,248/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $204,992. Graduates earn a median $58,152 ten years after entry, $9,792/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 20.9 years — a 20-year net return of -$9,152, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Otis College of Art and Design's 20.9-year payback ranks #1,072 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 16% of them, and #111 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $51,248/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $204,992 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $58,152 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $9,792/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 20.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$9,152 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Otis College of Art and Design's own numbers. Net price $51,248 × 4 years = $204,992 total. Median earnings $58,152 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,792 a year of premium. $204,992 ÷ $9,792 = 20.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$9,152. 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 Otis College of Art and Design students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $58,152 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Otis College of Art and Design students graduate?
66% finish their degree — 34% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $204,992 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $310,594 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Otis College of Art and Design expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $51,248 net price runs $31,343 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $125,372 more across the full degree.