Home > About Us About Us Mission, Goals & Institutional Student Learning Outcomes Accreditation Jobs at CCS Leadership/Administration Consumer Information & Disclosures History Honorary Degree and Commencement Speaker Policy Web Accessibility Policy Privacy Notice Nondiscrimination Policy Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Conference & Event Services CCS Policies Background The College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a nonprofit, private college authorized by the Michigan Education Department to grant Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. CCS, located in midtown Detroit, strives to provide students with the tools needed for successful careers in the dynamic and growing creative industries. CCS fosters students’ resolve to pursue excellence, act ethically, engage their responsibilities as citizens, and learn throughout their lives. With world-class faculty and unsurpassed facilities, students learn to be visual communicators who actively use art and design toward the betterment of society. The College is a major supplier of talent to numerous industries, such as transportation, film and animation, advertising and communications, consumer electronics, athletic apparel, and many more. Its graduates are exhibiting artists and teachers, design problem solvers and innovators, as well as creative leaders in business. Founded in 1906 as the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts, CCS plays a key role in Detroit’s cultural and educational communities. A private, fully accredited college, CCS enrolls more than 1,400 students, pursuing Master of Fine Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Art Education, Color and Materials Design, Design for Climate Action, Motion Design, Transportation Design and User Experience Design and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Advertising Design, Art Education, Art Practice, Communication Design, Craft and Material Studies, Entertainment Arts, Fashion Design, Illustration, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design and Transportation Design. The College also offers free art education for more than 4,000 Detroit youth annually through its Community Arts Partnerships program. In addition, the College’s University Prep: Art & Design is a public charter middle and high school enrolling more than 800 students in a high-performance academic curriculum with a special focus on art and design. Degrees Bachelor’s Programs The BFA degree requires completion of 126 credit hours: 84 in studio areas and 42 in general studies courses. In addition to coursework in their chosen major, first-year students take courses in the Foundation Department, where they study drawing, color theory and basic design. Students in all majors also take courses in the Liberal Arts Department, designed to provide them with an understanding of the larger social and cultural context in which they live. Typical weekly schedules for full-time students comprise 24 studio hours and six academic hours. Undergraduate Programs Master’s Programs The College’s MFA degrees in Color and Materials Design, Design for Climate Action, Motion Design, Transportation Design and User Experience Design are terminal degrees that prepare students for leadership in industries that rely on design. The MFA degree programs share core curricula, with variations in technology components, and the focus and content of industry sponsored projects. The MFA degree requires completion of 60 credit hours. The 30-credit MA (initial degree) is the first year of the 60-credit MFA (terminal degree), with classes focusing on professional and technical skills and knowledge. Graduate Programs Location CCS is located in Detroit’s Midtown, where students will find a variety of activities near campus to enrich their studies and provide entertainment. The Detroit Film Theatre and the Detroit Institute of Arts, one of the largest art museums in the country, are both located next to CCS’s Walter and Josephine Ford campus. Admission to the DIA is free for CCS students. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the largest of its kind in the country, is also located next to campus. University and public libraries, galleries, great restaurants, and live music venues showcasing indie rock, hip hop, techno, folk, jazz and blues also can be found close by. While Detroit offers all the advantages you would expect from a big city, it is unique in many ways. For one, it‘s affordable. The city is also one of the largest markets in the country for advertising, industrial design and publishing – which means students have access to internships, jobs, and faculty mentors who are active in their fields. Ultimately, Detroit has been known for making things – this combination of craftsmanship and technology makes it a perfect place for an art and design school. Experience CCS and Detroit Undergraduate Fast Facts Fall 2021 Undergraduate Enrollment – 1431 38% male 62% female 85% full-time 15% part-time 42% reside in campus housing 58% reside off campus 78% from Michigan 22% from 36 states and 15 countries Enrollment by Department Advertising: Design – 56 Art Education (post-degree only) – 12 Art Practice – 66 Communication Design – 116 Craft and Material Studies – 42 Entertainment Arts – 408 Fashion Accessories Design – 52 Illustration – 261 Interior Design – 49 Photography – 69 Product Design – 122 Transportation Design – 154 Undeclared – 24 Ethnic Background 8% International 13% Black or African American 6% Hispanic/Latino <1% American Indian or Alaska Native 54% White (Non-Hispanic) 5% Asian 5% Two or more races 8% Race/ethnicity unknown <1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2021-2022 Tuition & Fees Tuition – $46,170 Required fees – $1,415 Housing – $6,700 – $7,800 Meal plans – $1,450 – $2,900 First to Second Year Retention – 75% National Average/Private – Traditional = 70.8% All Colleges = 66.2% Selective = 82.0% Graduation Rate (per 2020/21 IPEDS) – 55% National Average/Private – Traditional = 50.8% All Colleges = 46.0% Selective = 67.4% Average GPA of Incoming Freshmen – 3.46 Average Age – 21 Student-to-Faculty Ratio – 10:1 Financial Aid 98% of CCS students receive some form of institutional, State or Federal financial assistance. Graduate Fast Facts Fall 2021 Graduate Enrollment – 62 53% male 47% female 84% full-time 16% part-time 34% reside in campus housing 66% reside off campus 42% from Michigan 58% from 7 states/US Territories and 10 countries Enrollment by Department Color and Materials Design – 24 Integrated/Systems Design Thinking- 6 Interaction Design – 7 Transportation Design – 25 Ethnic Background 55% International 3% Hispanic/Latino 5% Black or African American 26% White 0% American Indian or Alaska Native 3% Two or more races 3% Asian 3% Race/ethnicity unknown 0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2021-2022 Annual Tuition and Fees Tuition – $48,240 Required Fees – $1,415 Housing – $6,700 – $7,800 Meal Plan – $1,450 – $2,900 Average Age – 26 Additional LInks About Us The Office of the President Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Community Outreach & Engagement Office of Partnerships Contact Maps and Directions Marketing & Communications CCS Campus Policies Address 201 E. Kirby Detroit, MI 48202 (Map) Contact 313.664.7400 Departments & Offices Accessibility Policy. Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube Vimeo Pinterest Snapchat