| Location: | Southwest |
| Setting: | Mid-size City Setting |
| Type: | Private |
| Size: | Small (Under 2,000 Undergrad) |
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.
Art Center College of Design (commonly referred to as Art Center) is a private college located in Pasadena, California. It is one of the leading graphic and industrial design colleges in the world. The school logo is an orange circle, also known as the Art Center "Dot", which has been a part of the school identity since its beginning. Art Center is particularly known for its Transportation (Automobile) Design and Product Design programs. It also has notable photography, graphic design, advertising design, illustration, fine art and film programs, and a successful Entertainment Design track for Industrial Design and Illustration students. The school maintains two campuses in Pasadena; both are considered architecturally notable.
Art Center built its reputation as a vocational school, essentially, preparing returning GIs for work in the commercial arts fields. It has traditionally maintained a strong "real world" focus, emphasizing craftsmanship, technique, and professionalism while somewhat de-emphasizing theory. Instructors are working professionals, for the most part, and projects are intended to map to real-life assignments.
The challenge for schools like Art Center is maintaining a balance between talent and revenues. Tuition in 2007 was over $14,000 per term (with three terms per year in a trimester system), with no offering of room and board, plus the considerable costs of books, supplies, and other learning incidentals. There are currently plans to build on-campus housing.
While undergraduates can obtain a four-year Bachelor degree in about 2 years and 8 months (8 terms total), most students take a term off for independent study, part-time "lite" terms, or to complete industry internships, lengthening their stay to 3+ years. The accelerated learning environment stems from the college's trade school roots. Administrators and faculty want to mimic "real world" work scenarios as much as possible, in which there are no summer vacations.
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| Percent of Students International: | 14% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | No |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 25,244 | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 24,844 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 400 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 2,200 | 33% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 10,095 | 12% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 8,861 | 33% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 4,746 | 30% | |
Any Aid: |
55% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 73% (Selective) |
| Application Fee: | $ 45.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Recommended |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Not Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Recommended |