Otis College of Art and Design
Los Angeles, California · Private · 1,223 undergraduates · otis.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
82%
of 2,549 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1265 to 1395
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$94,180Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Otis College of Art and Design
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
82% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$94,180
a year in 2027-28, from a $94,180 sticker price
What to do with your 1330
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1330).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Reviews applications as they arrive, so applying early helps.
- International applicants may use SAT/ACT for English proficiency in place of TOEFL/IELTS/PTE/Duolingo
Source: How to Apply - Otis College · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Dec1Early Action · December 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Feb15Priority deadline · February 15, 2027Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
Source: How to Apply - Otis College
Who gets in
82%
of applicants were admitted: 2,084 of 2,549 for fall 2024.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 12/1, hear by 12/18.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2024)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above.
SAT total 1265 to 1395
Reading and Writing 665 to 720
Math 600 to 675
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.28
- 4.03.7%
- 3.75 to 3.9922%
- 3.50 to 3.7417%
- 3.25 to 3.4918%
- 3.00 to 3.2416%
- 2.50 to 2.9912%
- Below 2.5013%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$94,180
a year
- Tuition$58,540
- Fees$1,170
- Food and housing$25,130
- Books and supplies$1,180
- Transportation and other$8,160
Otis College of Art and Design published $87,064 for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$43,134
- $30,001 to $48,000$42,291
- $48,001 to $75,000$51,314
- $75,001 to $110,000$48,898
- Over $110,000$56,750
Financial aid
50%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$21,918
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
0.9%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $13,645 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 1-Mar
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
33 of 33
Earn credit with a score of 3
29 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $5,850Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| African American Studies | 3 | Thought Lab 2, Social Science or LAS Sophomore Elective | |
| Art History | 4 | 3 | Introduction to Visual Culture |
| Biology | 3 | 3 | Natural Science |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 3 | Math Elective |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 3 | Math Elective |
| Chemistry | 3 | 3 | Natural Science |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | Thought Lab 2 or Social Science |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | Natural Science |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 3 | Thought Lab 1 or LAS Sophomore Elective, Waive WPA |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 3 | Thought Lab 1 or LAS Sophomore Elective, Waive WPA |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | Natural Science |
| European History | 3 | 3 | Social Science or LAS Sophomore Elective |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LAS Sophomore Elective |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | Thought Lab 2 or Social Science or LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | Social Science or LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | Social Science or LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 3 | Natural Science |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 3 | Natural Science |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | Math Elective | |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | Social Science or Natural Science or LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Research | 3 | LAS Sophomore Elective | |
| Research | 4 | Thought Lab 1 or Thought Lab 2 | |
| Seminar | 4 | Thought Lab 1 or Thought Lab 2 | |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | LAS Sophomore Elective |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | Math Elective |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | Thought Lab 2 or Social Science |
| United States History | 3 | 3 | Social Science or LAS Sophomore Elective |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 3 | Thought Lab 2 or Social Science or LAS Sophomore Elective |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
58%
Come back for a second year
74%
Typical earnings
$70,469
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Otis College of Art and Design$59,769
- All colleges$55,092
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 3 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Otis College of Art and Design.