Art Center College of Design Student Store

What a treat to attend the annual Car Classic event at the place that graduated 40% of the world's automotive designers. The show this year (2018) was brilliant. All the cars at this year's event we're designed by Art Center graduates. An Alpha Disco Volante prototype, one of only two made. A Hyundai 4-door sedan prototype with suicide rear doors and a paint job that revealed streaks of rainbow as you walk by; a charcoal grey Genesis roadster prototype with an innovative take on gull wing doors with copper wheels and matching bright work. Chrysler Atlantic and Chronos prototypes and loads more. We were also able to walk through the entire main building enjoying the exhibits and workshops where the design magic happens. 10/20/19. More marvelous cars

Very inspiring art pieces and a great place to study art! This college offers a huge array of art designs and concepts.

Came to be a student aid and guest. Beautiful scenery outside, kids are well brought up and respectful.

From everything I know about this school and from my few interactions with the administration, it’s the best art school hands down.

Great campus, lots of history. But these days it’s a little different. No longer a free-thinkers art school anymore.

If you want to make cars that look like an anime child's dream they got that. As for the other departments, they leave to want for. It's a private school, like any private company, make money doge accountability.

Go here for the graduation shows! They display the art work of all the graduating students. The whole building turns into an art gallery. The campus also has great views of the San Gabriel valley.

Eh. Hillside store is much better. South campus store accepts no returns, restocks items spontaneously & slowly, slow transactions, and it's pricey despite everything being 20% off (excluding apple products and accessories.) There's lots of room for improvement.

This is an amazing place to visit( They had an exhibit of futuristic cars and their library is special. I was impressed by the talented students who combine the scientific rigor and the artistic touch.

The ArtCenter College of Design had a terrific classic car show that featured an eclectic variety of the areas best classics,vintage and collector cars,trucks and motorcycles! The cars were all excellent and the owners shared great "gear head" stories! Along with perfect blue skies and overlooking the scenic Rose Bowl Linda Vista area of Pasadena and beautiful Angeles National Forrest the event featured scrumptious food and drinks,vendors,music and a terrific group of car lovers,families and visitors ! The staff handling the event-known as "The Pit Crew"-Were all very friendly,helpful and courteous! We all had the very best time at the event! . . . . . #artcentercollegeofdesign #accod #accd #seetheusa #godisgood #carshows #lindavista #pasadena #rosebowl #pitcrew #cardesign #goodtimes #classiccars #insta360x3 #360photography #carphotography

My son is a student here. I will say they do have an amazing program however the intensity of the major he is studying is so rigorous you would think he is becoming a surgeon! The classes are on average 4 hours long and the GPA they need to maintain to stay enrolled is bonkers. He has zero balance with any social life and his college work and there is no way he could keep any job attending college here. He is literally working on his projects constantly and has not slept enough in a long time. He has said many others have missed classes due to lack of sleep and also some just fall Asleep In class because they are so exhausted. Really not sure yet if he will stay here for the long haul as it's just a lot for anyone. I guess time will tell.

Good college, a lot of good work and working professionals come out of this school and make human progress, especially for the automobile industry. Also, breathtaking views of the place. I've been here for art shows in the past and recently came out here to see the Los Angeles city from a hilltop. Nearby neighborhood is also very nice, quiet, tucked away part of Pasadena. Yes, tuition is expensive, but that is to be expected when choosing to attend a private college, especially in California.

Alumni definitely are survivors. I applied because I wanted the work ethic it took to create the work I admired at the student gallery. I still prefer the student store over all others because of the wooden panels. Student Life used to argue with me that the three term system could not compare to a semester school, but the tuition really is as much as Ivy League. The success rate post-graduation is determined by that percentage that actually responded to the Career Services survey. Alumni Relations seems to prefer returning calls to responding to e-mail. My campus forwarding address had expired a couple months after they said it would fail so I had to get an alumni one. They couldn't find me in the database for several minutes so I had to give them my graduation year and major. I never did receive a confirmation e-mail to show that it works.

I wish I had talent! Walking on campus I felt like an end user. These kids are so innovative and talented. We came here to check out a fashion show but we were too late so we browsed the campus and we saw a bunch of talented kids creating stuff in their classrooms. From what I understand tuition here is a very pricey but if you have the talent you can probably go somewhere with it afterwards.

Beautiful school, if you're lucky and able to go here or send your child. It is truly an amazing campus!

I took art center's night classes from 2008-2010. Some with warren attebury (perspective), intro to figure drawing, some product design classes, entertainment design, sketching class, etc. This school is none other in a way that it absolutely expects the best out of its students- if your work sucks you will get scrutinized and encouraged to push yourself more. Even if your work is good you will be expected to do more and learn more from the class. Art center is reputable for a reason. The expertise of its faculty, ambitious students, and the exceptional community of artists and designers are what make up this place. They accept no less than spectacular, and the work that comes out of this school definitely proves that. I got accepted into their illustration program but did not end up attending because of personal issues. If I could go back in time and attend this school, well, you already know the answer is yes. If you're very serious about your art and design career and are looking for a place to make you a creative force, this is definitely the place for you. Forget the money, invest in something you truly believe in and the rest will take care of itself.

I went here actually and got my Bachelor in Arts, directly after high school. I question the value of higher education sometimes (especially specialized private schools) and wonder how much of it is really applicable to real life. The truth is I have a great career now. Art Center helped jumpstart a clear career direction very early on in my life. In addition, it helped built a strong foundation in which I'm able to apply everything that I have learned in my line of work. It's already been 14 years and the knowledge that I have gained, hardships that I've endured (pulling all-nighters) have finally paid off. Based on my experience, here are the positives: +Specialized curriculum and prepares the student for their career from the beginning. The first part of the program focuses on building a strong foundation. As you progress into the program, you begin taking more specialized classes that are suited to your goal. +Top-notch instructors (most are professionals and have their own businesses and relevant life experiences) +Expectation is very high and disciplined, therefore students need to perform at their very best all the time. +One of the most prestigious art schools in the country (maybe even the world). +The campus is beautiful (modern, chic, clean) and an awesome gallery The negatives: +The tuition is quite high and the rate goes up each year. I was paying $8K per term 14 years ago and ended up owing about $100K in student loans by the time I graduated. (But on a bigger picture it's really not that much). +Prepare to give 120% because you WILL be pulling all-nighters and perhaps even shed some tears from constructive criticisms of your work by the Instructors.

I love ArtCenter so much. I majored in illustration. So many famous instructors teach in this school, as well as famous alumni.

Just learned about Art Center College of Design. Drove up to check it out this weekend. What a fantabulous campus. So beautiful. Definitely makes me inspired to go out there and create awesome stuff! Walked through the gallery on campus. Spectacular work. Very impressive. The grounds are so beautiful. Up in the hills overlooking the Rose Bowl. Really peaceful and perfect.

I'm not going to lie: This review is purely about the aesthetic value of this beautiful place. After all, I was only here for an audition, and know next to nothing about the world of sculpting, painting, and design. Just exiting the freeway and driving through the gorgeous neighborhoods up to this place was a treat. The school, itself, is tucked away in a secluded part away from the neighborhoods, up the hill a little ways. It's pretty easy to pass the entrance, so keep an eye out for it, and once inside, you need to make sure you don't park in any restricted areas. When in doubt, ask security. As I was escorted through the halls of this place by a really nice security guard, though, I could easily see myself falling in love with the process of creating art. As I passed workshop after workshop, I saw state-of-the art materials and technology, as well as sculptures, paintings, and designs the likes of which I've only ever seen in big-budget movie sets and studios in Hollywood. This place has more rooms and resources than I would have ever thought possible or even necessary for a school dedicated to just a few subjects. And the best part is, most of it is hands-on; every room I passed had students and teachers "getting their hands dirty" with one artistic pursuit or another. The views are fantastic, and there are many secluded areas to chill, study, eat, or what have you, and I even saw a basketball court in the distance, which tells me this place has all the amenities of a small, well put together community. Forget studying here; I'd love the opportunity to come visit once in a while!

I love the art store at Art Center in Pasadena, since they have great wood boxes for collage work and also a nice selection of paints and charcoals. I've heard great things about Art Center and very impressed with the art exhibit I saw with a friend. Keep up the great work!

Today i came here with a high school student who want to be a musician. She asked me to browse the school to get inspired. It is stunning. I realized that it is the best school ever. Every art work that Art Center students have done is far beyond. and i understand why people said this school is the best. I am so lucky that I live near by. Today i could visit an exhibition "PAGES" by accident. While browsing the campus, i found out the exhibition began. It was very impressive and creative. i love the school and the exhibition.

I learned a lot from attending ArtCenter with the help of financial aid, outside scholarships, stipends, my many part-time jobs off campus, and grants. I even used my money I had earned as a plasma donor to fund my education. One of my favorite events is the Car Classic, where I went from volunteering to selling my artwork as a vendor. I have taken many helpful courses such as the motion design classes, but I wish I had taken more of them! One of my favorite animators is one of the motion design instructors, who helped me create multiple animations from scratch with tons of patience. I am proud to be part of the ArtCenter Alumni network now, and I have gained new LinkedIn connections who are resourceful. This expensive school definitely helped me get a job in the industry. I graduated in fall 2018, and I have changed as a better Artist. It is difficult for me to communicate with those not in the industry as I have gained new vocabulary that is known in motion graphics and animation.

Extremely overpriced art school that left me with a lifetime of debt. There a few good instructors here and there and your skills will improve if you put forth the effort. However be advised, if you're thinking of taking on debt to attend accd, be very, very careful and do not take lightly the idea of taking out huge sums of money to pay for AC. If you do decide to take out loans, you had better be supremely confident in your potential ability to work in your chosen field. You will accrue staggering debt that will crush your spirit and other times even your will to live. This is no joke. Before AC I had perfect credit and zero debt. 13 years on, I'm still paying off the loans with no end in sight and my credit is ruined. I pay what I can when I can and even then I'm hounded by loan companies every day, threatening wage garnishment and to intercept my tax returns. This is not where I imagined my life would be in 2017. If even after reading my warnings you're still not convinced I would strongly advise looking into workshops in Pasadena and the surrounding area. Many are taught by accd instructors and you will receive the exact same instructions without the staggering debt. If you are determined to go into a field taught by accd, reach out to students former and present that have taken out loans. Talk to them and ask for their honest opinions. Even then, to save face, many may be ashamed to admit they made a mistake in taking out the loans. Upon visiting AC you will be impressed by the beautiful campus and professional staff. Don't be fooled by the outside appearance. Art Center is a well oiled money making machine. Also, beware of the administrators at Art Center. None that I met attended AC therefore have no sense of what it's like to be a student there. For them, it is simply a job. AC does have an impressive pedigree but only a handful reach the top. PR puts them front and center but remember, thats what a good PR staff does. It's all part the show that is ACCD. In addition, don't be swayed by reviews by others that have simply visited the campus or taken a couple night classes there. Being a full time student is a very different experience. I see many that give AC 5 stars only to see they simply visited the campus. That is not a review worth noting.

What a big waste of money. This school doesn't teach you much about art. However, the name holds weight. However, there are very few art related jobs outside of design. So I give them a whopping 1.

Expensive, but the quality of teachers is very high. It did prepare me for a career in the creative field.

The hardest work I've ever done, even after working professionally for the past 10 years since graduating. It cost me $100,000 back then and I had scholarship. I was a photo major, which is a tough road for a kid without a trust fund or fairly well-off parents. Being broke, working in the computer lab, photo office, prop room and admissions office throughout, as well as doing freelance photo assisting on the side, I still racked up about 20k in credit cards during my time there from buying groceries, buying supplies and just surviving. The credit cards are paid off, thankfully, but I'll be paying those loans for a while yet. The good news is that without Art Center (not *THE* Art Center, as so many people call it. It's just Art Center, ACCD or Art Center College of Design, folks) I would be just another poor schlep trying to call themselves a photographer/artist/designer. IF not for ACCD, I wouldn't have ever discovered graphic design, would never have gotten as proficient as I did with the mac (it WAS 10 years ago, so I was pretty cutting edge for a photo kid) and I would have never become an Interactive Art Director, Mobile Interface Designer or Product Designer. I wouldn't have even known what those jobs were. Nor would I have met my personal gods, Anton Corbijn and Keith Carter. If you don't know those photographers, go look them up. The hard part is that it's up to you. The school provides the opportunity, but it's yours to take or not. Even now, when things aren't quite as top notch as they were back in the day (all us old folks say that, right?), it's still your game. Compete with yourself, not your douchey classmates. Don't worry about who drives a Porsche or a Range Rover. Pack up your gear in your little hooptie and kick some ass. The kids who want it the most and work the hardest end up with the best jobs later. Let the slackers who don't know what hard work is go collect a paycheck from mommy and daddy after graduation.

I've been through the graduate program 3 years ago, for about 2.5 years. It's fucking hard alright. If you ever made it through their programs, there's nothing else you can't do anymore. Their undergraduate program is very solid that most graduated students will jump start with a strong and promising design career. Their graduate program is hardcore design thinking. You'll be challenged left and right on the past and current design theories, social responsibilities as designers, and how can we influence the world with design, etc. It's not only theory based, all grad students will work in a super studio project which they'll spend several semesters to propose a design solution to a social problem, backed with business planning and leverage with technology. Art Center is extremely challenging, and it's definitely not for everyone. You have to put up with the constant all nighters, get used to harsh critiques and push yourself every day to keep the project going. The tuition is ridiculously expensive, but I think it's worth every single penny I paid. Art Center does offer limited scholarships based on reviews. This school has always been the leader on the design industry. The most valuable thing you'll learn is not only the design skills, but how you'll think differently as a designer, and how Art Center trains you to be the thought leaders of the design profession. The experience and network from this school is invaluable to its alumni. At the end, you'll be so proud that you went through the program, and be able to say "I did it! I fucking did it!"

I remember my days at Art Center fondly. I had never heard of the school until a mentor I trusted suggested I visit the school. It was a life changing experience. I remember near the end of my 1st semester (they're actually trimesters but we never called them that) and I'm walking down a hallway and this beautiful girl has collapsed against the side wall, crying her eyes out. I remember thinking, "Your good looks count for nothing here, sweetheart." A little further down the hallway and you see people sleeping under tables. Others desperately trying to remove smudges and stray marks because tomorrow... here comes the crit. It's the work, it's the work, it's the work. That same semester, one of my own classmates quit. Couldn't handle the pressure. Their dad was a rich, influential designer and an Art Center alum, but he couldn't save them. Nobody cares who your dad is at Art Center. It's the work, it's the work, it's the work. I was in the film program, and I can honestly say, in the film business, nobody gives a shit where you went to school. I did my grad school at USC. Believe me... nobody cares. It's the work, it's the work, it's the work. So, if you see a bunch of people whining and crying about their failed careers and massive debt (I've written and produced movies and TV and am still paying off ACCD and USC loans) then it all boils down to one simple thing... It's the work, it's the work, it's the work. At Art Center, they will crush you if you can't keep up. Slip just a little, nobody but your classmates can help you (and they usually will). Feel tired? Sleep after graduation. Wish you could see your family? They'll come to your graduation. At Art Center nobody wants your excuses. It's the work, it's the work, it's the work. Could I have had a career in the film business without Art Center (or USC for that matter)? Of course. I'm not stupid. If you go to a school thinking the name is magical and will open doors for you, then you're an idiot. But at Art Center I perfected something beyond value. I molded and shaped my most precious resource into that thing that got me everything I ever wanted... The work.

It's like this bad relationship that you can never get out. you know one of those relationship you're like "OMG I HATE THAT BITCH. THAT BITCH IS DESTORYING MY LIFE." yet you're still with her coz of whatever other reasons you have, like she's like giselle doutzen kroes hot, or like whatever else it has to offer. yeah. this place is like that. you'll learn a lot along the way, and feel like a survivor in the end, just like beyonce.

The most valuable experience of my life. I wouldn't trade all of the struggle and sleepless nights for anything. Don't even think of going to Academy of Art in SF.

I'm a current student here and I have to say that I love Art Center! I'm not saying this because I'm currently enrolled, but more so because as a student, I never thought I could learn as much as I have within these past few terms. (Currently in my 4th term! Woo!!) The school runs on a trimester system so there are 3 terms within each year (Fall, Spring, Summer). Each term is 14 weeks and then you get a 3 week break, then the next term begins, and you rinse and repeat. (Kiss your social life goodbye for every 14 week cycle, lol) The program is designed so you are to complete 8 terms and then you are on your way of becoming a photographer, designer, etc etc. Honestly the school is amazing. I never thought I could learn soooo much ! I think I've already said that, but I need to say it again! Teachers are always helpful and want to help you. A lot of the teachers are also very honest-- if your work sucks, they will say it.. Some more nicely than others while some may tear you a new one. But that's the nice thing-- the teachers are here to help you succeed. The only down side is the cost of tuition but in the end, it's worth it. There is one secret I will share with anyone who visits ACCD. Buy soda from the vending machines! The bottled 20oz kind. The vending machine is 5c (was 30c) cheaper than at the cafeteria. If you're a student that 5c over time adds up.. Seriously.

Yes, I got a great job coming straight out of this school. Yes, this school does have a great foundation program. And yes, it's vastly overpriced. Only go here if you can convince yourself that you're going to drop everything in your life to solely focus on your education. After you finish, accept the fact that you'll be living just above the poverty line for a long while should you find gainful employment. The 3-stars is for their ridiculous, inflated cost. Also, while I was attending, there wasn't an "entertainment" track to follow (which I found misleading), so I had to construct my own curriculum (by any means necessary). You may have to do the same if that's the field you're interested in.

Driving 1.5 hours from Santa barbara every Saturday at 6am just to take their "Art center at nite" program was no easy task. It was worth it. The BFF and I took this class to enrich our minds and to learn something other than the practical side of designing without thinking of all the limitations that engineers impose. It was a good intro into learning how to draw, but I would never consider this class the end all be all to learn the technical side of drawing. It's a bit pricy, especially after the materials, but definitely a worthwhile experience. Teacher's suggestion: If it's too much coin for you, try PCC's industrial design class. It's cheaper and taught by teachers who've been educated by art center.

It's everything you've heard, really hard, really expensive, and a really top notch education in design. i'm glad I didn't realize how much it cost before I started because it would have scared me off. But in the end it pays for itself and it was totally worth it. Top marks for the education, I wish I could give negative stars for this place administratively. When they send me letters asking for donations I fall down laughing. If I could sum up what I got out of this experience it was that I learned by doing from people who knew because they'd done it. I got really sick of black and white hall ways, no parking, and administration who only cared about receiving checks. On the other hand I could never get sick of being constantly inspired by the work of other artists and being pushed to try harder and be better. Oh and I kind of miss the deer too.

Fresh new ideas and arrangements can be found here at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena! Graduating Senior Art Shows are hip, trendy, inspiring and sometimes mind blowing event. There are three shows in one year: Spring, Summer and Fall terms. (This also means there are three graduation ceremonies in a year. Very different from other colleges and universities where there's only one). If you're into Art and Design, then you'll definitely enjoy the show. Fresh new ideas and arrangements can be seen. Very informative and useful source of learning current trends, movements and color palettes in design fields. I personally think (and one of my respected & admired photographers: Henry Cartier-Bresson once said..) there's no new ideas in this world, it's only NEW ARRANGEMENTS. For example, the materials the students used in their work aren't new, already existed, but the way they put it together makes it new. It's a new arrangement. Transportation design always draws the most crowd. I think Art Center is one of the few places to teach and produce such genre. I really enjoy peeking at the modernistic, radical and sleek car styles of the future. Some of the lines, forms and shapes of the projected 2015 or 2020 Toyotas are somewhat within my expectations and imaginations but some are totally off my imaginations. I also enjoy other fields like Product, Industrial, Environmental, Graphic, Illustration, Photography at the senior show. A lot of things to look at and ponder about your own work and vision in your own art or design career. You'll also see a lot of artsy and trendy people walking by and flaunting their one of a kind tasteful fashion. Another fun entertainment at the show is watching people. What people are wearing? becomes attentive and interesting topic. When I was considering about Photography program at Art Center, the tuition was little less than $10,000 per term in the late 90's, but now I was informed by one of the current students and it's around $16,000 / term. WOW. I thought $10,000 was super expensive. The investment for Art Center education is exclusive and privileged. It's not for everyone. A lot of the car designers who graduated from Art Center are loosing their jobs and switching to not so narrow career fields like product designs and such. I guess this economy is hurting everyone. Well.. but we can't lose any hopes. We have to be positive and hopeful all the time. Cheer up Art Center graduates! And this is kinda offbeat remark but don't forget to wear your new shoes and FLAUNT~ at the senior show!! I'm telling you.. That's how you do it. =)

Really bad thus far. I barely started and it's been one headache after another. Now, I know that most of my problems have been with the admissions, but FYI, I did get in. And it's not pretty inside. There's a really mean lady (VP of ADM) and she has been a HUGE pain and really unhelpful. Overall, I'm not grading the teaching or their resources. I'm giving them one star for customer service, overall communication and price.

LOL. I had no Idea people actually write reviews for schools. All I have to say is even though I'm paying a crap load of money off and will be for awhile, but it was all worth it.

This is the BEST school ever! The only negative point would be the price. But there are great chances for you to get tuition so it's not that bad. All the rest is unbelievably good. The teachers are awesome, the school itself is cool, the students are awesome. There is a great energy! Yes you have to work 200% but who would't? The student center offers great support. They help you out with anything. You just have to go see them. They helped me a lot!

Pros: Good to great school depending on the program and timing. Cons: Leaves you over 100k in debt with a most likely prospect of a 50k career. You can get a 8 year degree for not much more than that at state schools. Summary: Think hard about the $1000+ loan payment you will have every month for 10 years. There is a good chance you won't be making 6 figures. It is not a decision to be taken lightly.

(NOTE: this review is for the grad show only) Amazing. Simply amazing. We went to campus to visit with a friend who is currently attending ACCD. As luck turned out, we met her on campus at the same time as the grad show. We were able to see all of the graduating students' work, ranging from photography to product design to entertainment to illustration. Based on everything we saw, their work is a testament to how well ACCD educates their students and brings out their full potential.

Real good school. Get real good work here.... But you spend more on projects... And they work you like a dog, which is okay cuz we need the work for our portfolios... But just be warned. You get no sleep attending school here. An average of 2-4 hours of sleep (: good luck.

This is where the magic happens. But you need business sense too. Great vibes and dreams become realities. As well as debt

I Love Pasadena Art Center! It's an amazing school that teaches you about more than art. It gives you an insight of the real marketing world and helps you gain the competitive edge you need to succeed in the industry.

They have a great location of this institution it's fire proof, water proof, and earthquake proof, need I say more? I was here for my cousin's graduation which was well done and they had many pieces on display but i wasn't able to explore the whole campus. But from the looks of it.... looks like only the talented and the best of the best go here. Looks and seems like a great college for art school.

For those with bad reviews... Yes, your only flaw is the $$$. Art Center is a PRIVATE College!!! Get your head out of your butt and realize it is going to be expensive. If you set your mind to it and graduate and have good projects then you will be noticed and get a job. Changes are that a car, motorcycle, or products concept was thought out and model was made at one of their colleges. My only flaw is that the classes are cold so bring a sweater.

This school produces the most exceptional professionals of all the film schools in California. Every director I have cast projects for from the Art Center has been stellar. I LOVE these guys. There's no place quite as remarkable as Art Center for film, regardless of the cache other schools may carry. This one delivers.

The school used to be a great place when it was run by product people who actually cared. Today, a large part of the students are from Korea (nothing against them), because wealthy foreign students are the only ones able to afford the tremendous cost of studying there). Tuition is now above $20,000 per term, for a total cost of over $160,000. The majority of students will find that their school is not really as exceptional as they were told to, that career opportunities are really not that plentiful, and that salaries are generally below what career services promised. From a former grad's perspective, STAY AWAY from this scam. I took classes crammed with 52 students, for which I paid $1000 per week to have the privilege to attend. It is clearly no longer worth the expense.

I'm a product of Art Center's film program from the 1980's. I went right to work fully prepared. The program was outstanding, challenging and a pure joy. My classmates were clearly carefully chosen, sharing equal zeal to the medium. Some became lifelong friends. I deeply appreciate the preparation my instructors went through to deliver a Stanford-quality education. The core art courses are just as vital to my life as the department courses. Funny, I dream frequently of returning for my masters degree. Art Center is in my heart.

There is a magic that permeates the hallowed halls of Art Center, an invisible orange thread that connects each and every person that has stepped onto its manicured grounds and felt the stress/joy of design. Oh yeah, and there are coyotes. Sometimes lots of them. In the parking lot. Watching you. Let me get my biases out of the way and say that I don't just love ACCD, I'm *in love* with ACCD. After years in finance, one visit to a large game studio in OC pushed me out the door of spreadsheets and business professional attire, and into a wholly foreign world of chalk & marker renderings, free-hand ellipses and soul-withering public critiques. It hasn't always been a smooth road for me going from being a CPA to faking being a designer, but I have never looked back, and my career has gone in a direction I would never have imagined. That being said, tuition is on par with USC and other private schools in the area; that is to say bloody expensive. There was a definite (and unfortunately demonstrably) negative impact on my health due to stress while I was here as well. No one in my start group who came into the program being in a relationship left with that relationship (with very few exceptions). Art Center owns you from the day you start, and you might as well estrange yourself from your loved ones at the door. The workload was unlike anything I had experienced prior in my previous undergrad experience, or even working in finance. This stems from the fact that you're learning technical design skills which take time and continued practice to master, as well as developing your critical thinking. Neither of these can be truly learned during a 14 week term, but you're expected to anyways. The standards at the school are incredibly high, with teachers marking off points for smudges on the *back* of your work. "Learn to be perfect" is the lesson of the day, everyday. Rather than finding that attitude unnecessarily trivial or torturous, I ate it up. For the amount of money I was spending, I didn't want someone patting me on the head for crap work and bad design. Everyone should visit the campus for grad show which happens three times a year at the end of term. (Check the website's calendar for dates.) You will be surprised by what you see as this is *not* Art School Confidential. The grounds are beautiful, and you get a nice view of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl from the viewpoints on the south east side of campus. You might even catch me reliving my student tour guide days showing my friends around. This place forever changed my life and the way I view the world. With loaded phrases like that, how can I give anything but five stars?

This is best design schools in the country and still remains at the top of its game. There are a lot of other "art schools" that like to make snippy remarks about Art Center, but one this is for sure, you only tear down what you can not be. I have heard a range of comments from "its just a hoyty-toyty school with a big name" to comments about taking people who were already at the top and just shinning them up. Sounds nice if you are at a third rate art school but this is just not true. Unlike big name colleges like Harvard or Yale, Art Center has no grandfather clause. Just because daddy is rich and went there, the only way to get in is base almost entirely on your portfolio. They will fail you out if your skills are not up to par. Unlike Fill in the Blank Institute..., Art Center only cares about your portfolio. Yes you need talent, and yes they are looking for the best. The easy way to tell if your school you are considering is third rate is by how much they bend over backwards to keep you there and keep taking your money. Do they pass on 2 out of 3 portfolio applicants or do they accept almost everyone? Do they give you a second and third chance to bring up those grades? Do they kick you out if you fail a midterm review or do they keep sending you back for more classes. Oh and the biggest lie of all, everyone is capable of being an artist. Really? Is everyone capable of being a mathematician, writer, scientist, doctor? Would you go to a doctor who barely made it through a joke of a school or would you want someone with exceptional talent and training. Art Center has no time for that, they don't play that game and if you fail your out. By no means do they just shine you up. In fact, they tear you down first much like boot camp so they can start from scratch. The notion that it's simple polish only comes from people who have never attended there and are jealous of how much work it actually takes. I read the other reviews, and if you got 8 hours of sleep you were either cheating or didn't do very well. 3 to 5 hours a night is correct. Even still, a C student at Art Center would probably still be an A student at most other art schools. Not just on talent, but for always getting things done on time without excuses, extended deadlines and completely finished. That also means completely polished and presented to the whole class with no sleep. The only thing that sucked for me was their job placement. You're basically on your own and their feeble attempt was ridiculous. They gave me 2 leads to fallow up on, one was out of business, the other they just a name, no contact, no phone call, no interview. No thanks to them I did it myself. Other schools actually do really try and even brag about their placement numbers within the field of study. Ironically, my first job hired me also based on my work coming out of Art Center but had never heard of the school. Art Center was probably the most valuable experience of my life. If you get accepted, do whatever it takes to attend. You will not regret it, if you make it through to the end.

What can I say... my beloved Alma Mater... I love you. You deserve 5 stars, in spite of being as tough as a hunger strike... This college has a "funny-sounding name" according to many... when I mention it, people think it's a Ballet school. Believe me, it's not! It's an amazing design school that gives you a very valuable education and diploma that opens most doors in the design industry. Super hard to get admitted, and even harder to graduate... Partly because it's UBER-pricey. Especially for those of us that came from out of state, or from another country. Living and study costs are exorbitant. Not just the tuition... rent, required materials, lots of hidden / miscellaneous expenses- it adds up quickly. Some of my friends and colleagues still have heavy debt and student loans to pay, although they're quite successful. Takes 10 or more years to pay the loans off, depending on the individual case of course. But, there is a benefit of having studied here vs. any other design school in the US: in a tough economy, my classmates and I remain always employed and are doing pretty well, working our asses off at our dream jobs: designing cool products, cars, interiors/exteriors, graphics, environments, ads, shooting top notch photos, directing cool movies, illustrating, story-boarding... If you don't mind sleeping only around 3 hours per night for 8 (or more) semesters, surrounded by extremely talented but also often aggressively competitive individuals, so motivated it can get quite intimidating at times... if you don't mind taking naps inside your car in the parking lot, cus you don't have time to drive back home (or God forbid, living permanently inside your VW Microbus- a colleague of mine went through college that way)... if you don't mind taking quick showers in a secret bathroom that "no-one else knows about" (hehe)... If you plan to work as a product designer with Apple Inc. in the near future... then this college is definitely THE place to go. PS. note to Kellis- yes, I also laugh out loud at those requests for donations that we (alumni) get in the mail every month... My laugh is a bit nervous, you know :) kind of jittery... PS2. if you do plan to apply for a design job at Apple, I would recommend also taking the master degree program at the RCA in London. That credential helps even better during interview with Apple Design Chief Jonathan Ive (who is a Brit).

Art Center is an absolute scam. $150,000 just for tuition?! The Career Services Department is completely feckless. The instruction is hit or miss, but mostly miss, and the facilities are a joke. I graduated with honors, but my expensive "degree" is useless. I would warn anyone against attending this school. It's easily the biggest mistake I've ever made, one that'll cost me over a $1000 a month for a VERY long time.

This is gonna be really simple. It's one of the best schools period. You can argue some have better programs but I didn't go to multiple different schools to compare. All I can tell you is this school is not for people that are trying out something for fun. This is serious business you need to know what you want in life. This isn't a party school just F'ing around and going to parties, this is what real life will be like if you choose to participate in design/ad/product/photography/film etc.. This is a no bullshit school. It makes some of the toughest designers I know. There is no excuses for failure and there are no boundaries to hold you down as well. If you want campy counselors and a step by step program of how to achieve that dream job you are in the wrong mindset. Function follows form as they say and you'll learn this very much so in whatever direction you choose. Anybody complaining about how the school is expensive and that they didn't learn much or they blame counseling were the weak minded students that barely got through it. The industry that involves these skills will require a creative innovative mind. Your teachers are your counselors, so become good friends with them since they've been in the trenches. The money it costs to go to this school is expensive for sure and there will be some kids that have the money to get into the school but it doesn't mean anything until you graduated the program. The teachers will be very critical of your work and insult your thinking possibly. It will challenge you mentally as well as physically but in the real world that's what it's like. Working late nights and working on the weekend and possibly rushing to produce something in limited time. This is the world we work in and that's what they honestly prepare you for. If you can't handle that stress than your not gonna be able to handle the real world working at large/small scale agencies where the demand for dedication is high. You got to have a no excuses type of mentality here and if you do then this is the place to fine tune your skills. -out

You definitely learn a lot at Art Center, they treat you like they would in the real world of art and design. BUT.... you're up to your chin in debt after you graduate. They raise the tuition 6% every term. I started in 2009 paying approx. $15K per term and finished paying just under $18K in 2012. I graduated in the Advertising department, one of the smaller departments at Art Center. My reason for 3 stars.... The fact that I felt completely screwed with my classes. The Department Chairman we had at the time didn't do jack about helping out the students. he was flakey, he didn't listen when you spoke to him, and hired all of his friends to teach the Ad students even though most of his friends didn't have any background in advertising. My final semester there we got a new Dept. Chairman and he's much better but he lives in NY and is only at the school 11 days out of the month, which isn't smart on the school's part. they should have a second Chairman to fill in for the guy when he's not at school. The old chairman told me that if i took the 5 classes i needed, i'll graduate in the summer of 2012.... he was so wrong! I spoke to the lady who is the Assistant Registrar, she goes "uhhhh, you can't graduate this term, you need 11 classes, not 5." i was furious! i told her what my Chairman said and she immediately got on the phone and called his office in front of me and chewed him out saying "i'm sick of having YOUR students come to me with misguided information you gave them! this is the 2nd student I had to tell this semester that they're short credits to graduate!" Boy was i mad. AC is very disorganized. After graduating, I had working professionals tell me that AC isn't as good as it use to be and other schools like Miami Ad and Creative Circus surpassed AC. Not good. It's a great school for Transportation Design, Graphic Design and Entertainment Design. Just because it has the name Art Center, doesn't guarantee greatness, you can only teach someone techniques... but you can't teach talent. Make sure you do your research and if you think you can handle the stress of being over $100K in debt before committing to this school.

I'm not a full-time student here, but someone with a BS degree and MS degree from different colleges. I also have many years of full-time job in corporations working on analytics before wanting to go into creative field. So I've got some experience to compare this school among others. A privately owned school with some reputation in art and design seems to be a good choice to go; besides, it's not too far away from where I live. But my enthusiasm seems to be damped every time I encounter Art Center. My experience is limited to its ACN programs and my interactions with the faculties. The quality of the teachers seem to be hit or miss, and most of them (who work in the field) have their busy schedule and can care less about the part-time students. First of all, the ACN website is way overdue for an update. To be honest, I can safely say it's made perhaps more than 5 years ago and has rarely been updated. The bright green font with white space in various parts of the website are just ridiculous to read; try yourself. The first course I took was Product Design: Basic. Well, it can't get more basic than this because the teacher pretty much spent more than half the time in EACH class talking about how he made it, how good the school is, how strict the application process is, and how rigorous the degree program is...etc. blah blah blah. Lots of self promoting and plug-ins. Essentially he only show us how to draw like 3 times toward the end of the program and asked us to create a project between drawing concept of a dumpster or a candle holder... Then the way he critics is really non-constructive by being critical about each sketches of someone by pointing to the short-comings when he initially asked students to sketch as many as they can. After hundreds of dollars spent, I felt it was all for nothing. I felt better about the other class about licensing, but that teacher was so tired of all day teaching she couldn't wait to get out by the end of the class. They also canceled one of the class I registered ONE day before the class starts. I was like... dude, you can at least tell me a week before so I can try to sign up for a different class; but no, Art Center is the shiz, so no care about students because they beg to take their classes!!! Well, I'd say hell probably 50% of the classes taught can be learn by oneself unless it requires machinery that the school possesses. Regardless, I find some teachers (maybe full-time faculty) pretentious, nonchalant, and defensive. The way the school does things seem just lame; well I suppose it's a culture thing that permeates the campus North & South.

Art Center costs as of Fall 2012 Undergraduate Tuition (per term): $17,526 There are no counselors to assist students in selecting classes. There are no Veteran services. Many teachers choose to yell, insult, and belittle students. There is minimal post education services (help finding work after school) If you attend this school watch your every step.