The Worst Colleges for Bachelor’s Degree Payoff, Ranked

California Institute of the Arts, better known as CalArts, grew out of a Disney-backed merger of art and music institutions in the 1960s. The school became famous for experimental creative training across animation, film, visual art, theater, dance, music, writing, and interdisciplinary performance.

With a 10-year average payoff of -$90,000, CalArts shows the gap between artistic prestige and fast financial return. Many creative careers take years to stabilize, especially in performance, fine art, and film. The longer-term numbers suggest some alumni may catch up as portfolios, credits, and networks grow.