Art Center College of Design vs Whittier College: which has better ROI?
Art Center College of Design has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $194,644 in 8.2 years versus 9.3 years at Whittier College, on median earnings of $71,958 vs $59,492 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Art Center College of Design | Whittier College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $48,661 | $25,757 |
| Total net cost | $194,644 | $103,028 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,958 | $59,492 |
| Median debt | $31,000 | $24,937 |
| Payback | 8.2 yrs | 9.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $277,316 | $119,612 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Art Center College of Design or Whittier College?
Whittier College, at $25,757 a year after aid versus $48,661 — a gap of $22,904 a year, or $91,616 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Art Center College of Design or Whittier College graduates earn more?
Art Center College of Design graduates report a median $71,958 ten years after entry, $12,466 more than the $59,492 at Whittier College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Art Center College of Design or Whittier College?
Whittier College: its completers carry a median $24,937 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Art Center College of Design, a difference of $6,063. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
79% of students finish at Art Center College of Design, against 60% at Whittier College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.