CA | PRIVATE NONPROFIT
Degreeli reads this school through school + degree value, not prestige alone. Start with the Value Score, then expand each program to see cost, salary, payback, and risk.
Overview
California College of the Arts looks strongest as a selective value play, with its best program landing at $1,791,789 in completion-adjusted ROI.
Families should compare the strongest path against weaker options, especially if recoup times stretch well beyond 30 years.
4-year net cost
$215,636
Estimated debt
$133,694
Early salary signal
$122,555
Graduation rate
61%
Why this score?
Caution Zone is a Degreeli Value Score v1 directional read based on modeled cost ($215,636), estimated debt ($133,694), early-career salary ($122,555), payback, completion, and review signals. The strongest signal is that cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay. The main caution is that debt risk rises quickly if borrowing approaches the modeled estimate. Data confidence is medium, so this should support comparison rather than act as a guarantee.
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Earnings outlook is strong for a first-decade career path.
Risks
Debt risk rises quickly if borrowing approaches the modeled estimate.
Payback could take longer than many families expect.
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
Programs
MASTERS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
61
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$1,791,789
Salary Outlook
$122,555
Estimated Debt
$133,694
Payback
9.1 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Earnings outlook is strong for a first-decade career path.
Risks
Debt risk rises quickly if borrowing approaches the modeled estimate.
Payback could take longer than many families expect.
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
59
High Risk
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$1,694,168
Salary Outlook
$116,336
Estimated Debt
$133,694
Payback
9.6 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Earnings outlook is strong for a first-decade career path.
Risks
Debt risk rises quickly if borrowing approaches the modeled estimate.
Payback could take longer than many families expect.
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
20
High Risk
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$593,298
Salary Outlook
$46,206
Estimated Debt
$133,694
Payback
24.3 years
Strengths
Enough directional data exists to compare this option against alternatives.
Risks
Total cost may be high relative to expected early-career salary.
Debt risk rises quickly if borrowing approaches the modeled estimate.
Payback could take longer than many families expect.
MASTERS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
19
High Risk
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$574,675
Salary Outlook
$45,019
Estimated Debt
$133,694
Payback
24.9 years
Strengths
Enough directional data exists to compare this option against alternatives.
Risks
Total cost may be high relative to expected early-career salary.
Debt risk rises quickly if borrowing approaches the modeled estimate.
Payback could take longer than many families expect.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
14
High Risk
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$406,871
Salary Outlook
$34,329
Estimated Debt
$133,694
Payback
30 years
Strengths
Enough directional data exists to compare this option against alternatives.
Risks
Total cost may be high relative to expected early-career salary.
Debt risk rises quickly if borrowing approaches the modeled estimate.
Payback could take longer than many families expect.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
14
High Risk
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$248,384
Salary Outlook
$24,233
Estimated Debt
$133,694
Payback
30 years
Strengths
Enough directional data exists to compare this option against alternatives.
Risks
Total cost may be high relative to expected early-career salary.
Debt risk rises quickly if borrowing approaches the modeled estimate.
Payback could take longer than many families expect.
Verified reviews
Student, graduate, and parent perspectives appear here only after email verification, affiliation review, automated screening, and moderator approval.
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ROI Snapshot
MASTERS
61
Caution Zone
On-time ROI
$2,926,804
Risk-adjusted ROI
$1,791,789
Value at risk
$1,135,015
Payback
9.1 years
BACHELORS
59
High Risk
On-time ROI
$2,767,344
Risk-adjusted ROI
$1,694,168
Value at risk
$1,073,176
Payback
9.6 years
BACHELORS
20
High Risk
On-time ROI
$969,124
Risk-adjusted ROI
$593,298
Value at risk
$375,826
Payback
24.3 years
MASTERS
19
High Risk
On-time ROI
$938,704
Risk-adjusted ROI
$574,675
Value at risk
$364,029
Payback
24.9 years
BACHELORS
14
High Risk
On-time ROI
$664,604
Risk-adjusted ROI
$406,871
Value at risk
$257,733
Payback
30 years
BACHELORS
14
High Risk
On-time ROI
$405,724
Risk-adjusted ROI
$248,384
Value at risk
$157,340
Payback
30 years
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