Best Fine and Studio Arts Degrees in California by ROI
Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in California
8
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$216,135
Across California programs
Average Annual Cost
$45,743
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
University of California-Santa Cruz
Grad rate: 75.7% |
+$212,782 | $56,504 | $38,649 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
University of California-Los Angeles
Grad rate: 92.6% |
+$12,394 | $46,284 | $36,643 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
California State University-Northridge
Grad rate: 56.1% |
-$207,814 | $33,641 | $20,317 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
California College of the Arts
Grad rate: 65.7% |
-$236,828 | $38,025 | $78,664 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
California State University-Long Beach
Grad rate: 71.3% |
-$250,600 | $31,501 | $20,310 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 6 | Claremont Graduate University | -$384,760 | $22,762 | N/A | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
California Institute of the Arts
Grad rate: 64.0% |
-$406,310 | $29,527 | $78,425 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Academy of Art University
Grad rate: 42.4% |
-$467,950 | $23,322 | $47,195 | N/A | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Fine and Studio Arts Degrees by State
Browse Fine and Studio Arts programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.