Otis at a Glance

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

BFA programs

MFA programs

On-campus labs and shops

9:1

Student- faculty ratio

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

College Magazine’s Top 10 Colleges for Aspiring Fashion Designers

Intelligent’s Best Master’s in Graphic Design Degree Programs

College Factual’s 2022 Best Digital Arts Degree Schools

#15

Animation Career Review’s Top 50 Illustration Schools and Colleges in the U.S.

#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 1%

In diversity according to the Chronicle of Higher Education

4/5

Campus Pride Index An overall indicator of institutional commitment to LGBTQIA+-inclusive policy, program, and practice

Most Diverse On Niche’s list of Most Diverse Colleges in California

#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

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:

30% are Asian
24% are Latinx
7% are two or more races
6% are Black/African American
.1% are American Indian or Alaska Native
31% are first-generation college students.

Clubs and Organizations

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.2

Ranking in the College Magazine for aspiring fashion designers

No.6

Ranking by the Economist