College ROI

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California Institute of the Arts

Valencia, CA 860 Undergrads 71.1% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$77,560
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$46,080
After Aid
Median Earnings
$35,256
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$46,080
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$35,256
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate71.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time99.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS48.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
32.3%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$328k
-$139k
-$157k
Median Cost$46k/yr
+$162k
-$305k
-$323k
Full Cost$78k/yr
+$48k
-$418k
-$436k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$46k/yr
Never
-195%
Full Cost$78k/yr
Never
-156%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-188%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-112%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
BachCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,240
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,119
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$49,840
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$41,192
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$271k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$29,426
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$374k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$28,617
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$381k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$40,294
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$279k

Master's Degrees

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Software and Media Applications
MastCIP: 1108
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,083
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
MastCIP: 3026
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,087
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Dance
MastCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,404
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Design and Applied Arts
MastCIP: 5004
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,073
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$109,180
Earnings (4yr)
$57,920
Natl Median: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
-$216k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
MastCIP: 5006
Median Debt
$96,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,207
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$232k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$24,720
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$543k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$44,150
Earnings (4yr)
$29,494
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$494k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
$61,000
Earnings (4yr)
$34,026
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$449k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.