When Otis College was established in 1918, it was Los Angeles’s first professional school of the arts. We’ve been growing and evolving ever since and are exceptionally proud of the community we’ve built—one that’s open-minded, forward-thinking, and welcoming. Today, Otis College is recognized as a leader in education and diversity.

What We Offer

We want you to thrive and dive into the disciplines that inspire you. Here, you have space to explore your creativity and be yourself—no matter your level of experience.

Programs

80BFA programs
8
BFA programs
20MFA programs
2
MFA programs
89On-campus labs and shops
8
On-campus labs and shops
30:1Student- faculty ratio
3:1
Student- faculty ratio
1500+Courses in Extension and certificate programs
150+
Courses in Extension and certificate programs

How We Rank

Otis College is a nationally recognized leader in art and design education, offering fully accredited degree programs for the in-demand disciplines of today and tomorrow.

All Rankings

#2100College Magazine’s Top 10 Colleges for Aspiring Fashion Designers
#2
College Magazine’s Top 10 Colleges for Aspiring Fashion Designers
#3100Intelligent’s Best Master’s in Graphic Design Degree Programs
#3
Intelligent’s Best Master’s in Graphic Design Degree Programs
#6100College Factual’s 2022 Best Digital Arts Degree Schools
#6
College Factual’s 2022 Best Digital Arts Degree Schools
#15100Animation Career Review’s Top 50 Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S.
#15
Animation Career Review’s Top 50 Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S.
#12100College Factual’s Best Visual and Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools
#12
College Factual’s Best Visual and Performing Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools

Who We Are

At Otis College, our close-knit community is inclusive and encouraging. We’re one of the most diverse schools in the nation, located in one of the most diverse cities in the world.

Life at Otis
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Top 1100%In diversity according to the Chronicle of Higher Education
Top 1%
In diversity according to the Chronicle of Higher Education
40/5Campus Pride Index An overall indicator of institutional commitment to LGBTQIA+-inclusive policy, program, and practice
4/5
Campus Pride Index An overall indicator of institutional commitment to LGBTQIA+-inclusive policy, program, and practice
#9100Most Diverse On Niche’s list of Most Diverse Colleges in California
#9
Most Diverse On Niche’s list of Most Diverse Colleges in California
#18100Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of Colleges with the Greatest Racial and Ethnic Diversity Among Students, 4-year Private Nonprofit Institutions
#18
Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of Colleges with the Greatest Racial and Ethnic Diversity Among Students, 4-year Private Nonprofit Institutions

Where We Work

Otis College alumni include Oscar winners, legendary costume designers, leading contemporary artists, successful entrepreneurs, and design stars at high-profile companies.

Careers & Outcomes

 

Recent Employers

  • Blizzard Entertainment
  • Coach
  • Colosseum Athletics
  • David Naman
  • DreamWorks
  • ESMoA
  • Faraday Future
  • GrandSon
  • Gruen Associates
  • GUESS
  • Halon Entertainment
  • Hamagami/Carroll Inc.
  • Hammer Museum
  • Hoedemaker Pfeiffer
  • Hook
  • Invisible Thread
  • Jazwares
  • Jeffrey Campbell
  • Jonathan Louis
  • Mad Engine
  • Mattel
  • Merlin Entertainments
  • MOCA
  • MOCEAN
  • Moose Toys
  • NBC Universal
  • Noirtainment
  • ODK Media
  • Phoenix Labs
  • Pocket Worlds
  • REALHYPE
  • reDiscover Center
  • REVOLVE
  • Riot Society
  • Select World
  • Signing Animation
  • Spin Master
  • The Wende Museum
  • Tiffany & Co.
  • URBN
  • Veneto Luce
  • Western Jet Aviation

Diversity

It is our commitment to keep our leadership accountable as we work toward our goal of a greater sense of belonging. The Otis Community has a deep commitment to shared governance as we work across all constituent groups, fostering a more collaborative spirit among committees, staff, faculty, students, alumnx, and academic leadership.

– Charles Hirschhorn
President, Otis College of Art and Design

Students at Otis
 
1. We do not tolerate racism or any other form of violence or discrimination.

2. We expect all Otis community members to work towards dismantling systems of oppression.

3. We recognize the college's historical struggles around equity and the ways those reflect the struggle in US culture and beyond.

4. We recognize diversity as a reality, a responsibility, and a resource.

5. We commit to treating every person's identity with dignity and respect.
6. We commit to practicing institutional responsibility to redress unjust histories.
7. We commit to an ongoing systemic and structural approach to correcting inequities. This work is collective, not individual.
8. We commit to hold ourselves and one another accountable to our collective effort to create an inclusive campus.
9. We commit to honesty, vulnerability, and openness as we dialogue across differences.
10. We commit to an intersectional and Justice-oriented approach.
 

 

Otis College is a welcoming, accessible, and diverse community. Over 70% of the student body are students of color:

  • 39% are Asian
  • 21% are Latinx
  • 6% are two or more races
  • 5.5% are Black/African American
  • .2% are American Indian or Alaska Native
  • .1% are Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
  • 30% are first-generation college students.
Arial Shot of Otis College Campus

Clubs and Organizations

Students on Club day
  • K-Pop Club,
  • Gardening Club,
  • The Tennis Club,
  • Dungeons, Dragons, and Diversity (D3),
  • and many more!

The scope and variety of our student-run clubs is proof that there’s something for everyone at Otis.

The Company We Keep

A Few of Our Honorary Degree Recipients Through the Years:
  • Snapchat Co-Founder and CEO Evan Spiegel
  • KORA Organics CEO Miranda Kerr
  • Emmy-nominated design expert Bobby Berk
  • Artist Enrique Martínez Celaya
  • Artist Lauren Halsey
  • Artist Mark Bradford
  • Artist John Baldessari
  • Artist David Hockney
  • Architect Frank Gehry
Through their Spiegel Family Fund, Honorary Degree recipients Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr gifted the Class of 2022 with a donation to Otis that enables graduates to repay their outstanding student loan debt, capping off a momentous academic year at the College.

Ranked

No.2100Ranking in the College Magazine for aspiring fashion designers
No.2
Ranking in the College Magazine for aspiring fashion designers
No.6100Ranking by the Economist
No.6
Ranking by the Economist
Top 1100%in diversity by "The Chronicle of Higher Education"
Top 1%
in diversity by "The Chronicle of Higher Education"

Incoming Student Profile

Top 7 Countries of Origin (2022)
South Korea 23
China 20
Taiwan 6
India 6
Russia 2
Canada 2
Belgium 2

Top 5 States of Origin (2022)
California 288
New York 14
Washington
10
Pennysylvania 7
Oregon 7