ArtCenter College of Design

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit institution with active WSCUC accreditation
• Founded in 1930 and operating in Pasadena, California
• Offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees, with no verified doctoral programs
• Maintains two Pasadena locations: Hillside Campus and South Campus

Student Life & Environment

Student life is organized around a relatively focused creative community and the demands of studio education. The Center for the Student Experience coordinates campus life, student engagement, multicultural affairs, international student services, academic accommodations, orientation, leadership development, and wellness-related support. ArtCenter also identifies student clubs, community volunteering, and educational, cultural, and social events as ways to participate beyond coursework. The two-campus arrangement shapes daily routines. Hillside sits in the San Rafael Hills above the Rose Bowl, while South Campus occupies several buildings near Raymond Avenue and Arroyo Parkway. Galleries and exhibition spaces at both locations display student and professional work. Hillside includes a student gallery and the Williamson Gallery; South Campus includes the 950 Gallery and Mullin Gallery. These spaces can make exhibitions and critique part of everyday campus experience rather than an occasional extracurricular activity. ArtCenter’s 2026–2027 cost model budgets for off-campus housing and food rather than listing housing as a standard institutional charge. Students should therefore investigate housing, commuting time, and transportation before enrolling, especially if their coursework uses both campuses. Support for international students is available through the Center for the Student Experience. Career programming is also integrated into student services through advising, workshops, mentorship, internships, recruitment activity, and an online career portal.

Location & Surroundings

ArtCenter is based in Pasadena, within the greater Los Angeles region. Its Hillside Campus occupies 165 wooded acres in the San Rafael Hills above the Rose Bowl. The principal building is a modernist steel-and-glass structure designed by Craig Ellwood Associates and designated a local historic landmark. South Campus, established in 2004, consists of several buildings in the southern part of Pasadena, including a former post office, a historic supersonic wind tunnel, and renovated educational spaces. The two sites offer different surroundings and program concentrations. Hillside is separated from central Pasadena by its elevated setting, while South Campus is closer to the city’s street network and transit corridors. Students whose classes or activities span both locations should assess the practical commute rather than treating ArtCenter as a single compact campus. Pasadena places students near Los Angeles-area museums, studios, entertainment businesses, design firms, and cultural organizations. The official campus guide estimates Pasadena at about 30 miles from Los Angeles International Airport and about 16 miles from Hollywood Burbank Airport, though journey times vary substantially with traffic. Prospective students should factor Southern California transportation and off-campus living costs into their decision.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For the 2026–2027 academic year, full-time undergraduate tuition is $28,681 per term and graduate tuition is $30,312 per term. A required Universal Access Fee of $653 applies each term. For two terms, ArtCenter estimates undergraduate direct tuition and fees at $58,668 and graduate direct tuition and fees at $61,930. Its published off-campus cost-of-attendance estimates are $91,132 for undergraduates and $94,394 for graduate students, including allowances for housing and food, books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and loan fees. These are planning estimates, not a promise of what an individual student will spend. Health insurance is required for degree students; those with sufficient coverage may seek a waiver, while the listed 2026–2027 institutional plan costs $392 per term. Financial-aid eligibility depends on citizenship, need, merit, and program circumstances. ArtCenter says it administers institutional and donor-supported scholarships. Entering US students seeking scholarship consideration should complete their admission materials and have a FAFSA on file by the applicable priority date. International students do not file the FAFSA for ArtCenter scholarships and may be considered without demonstrating financial need. Missing a priority date does not automatically end consideration, but available funding may be limited. Creative Careers and Global Programs provides career advising, workshops, alumni mentorship, experiential learning, internships, recruitment programs, and access to an online job board and resource library. These services can support portfolio-to-employment preparation, but the reviewed official pages do not establish a universal placement rate, starting salary, or guaranteed employer outcome. Applicants should ask for recent, program-specific outcomes before using career prospects to justify the total cost.