For Korean families investing significant money in US art school education, one of the most practical questions is: what happens to graduates? Understanding the graduate employment rates and career outcomes at RISD, Parsons, and CalArts helps families evaluate these investments with clear eyes — not just in terms of prestige, but in terms of actual career outcomes.
What “Employment Rate” Means — and Its Limitations
Before comparing numbers, it’s worth understanding what art school employment rate statistics actually measure and what they don’t.
What they typically measure: Whether graduates are employed (or in graduate school) within 6 to 12 months of graduation. Some schools count freelance and self-employment; others count only traditional employment.
What they don’t tell you: The quality, relevance, or compensation of that employment. A graduate working as a barista while developing their art practice may be counted as “employed.” A graduate who immediately joins Apple’s design team is also “employed.” The metric doesn’t distinguish between these outcomes.
With that caveat in mind, here’s what is known about outcomes at each school.
RISD: ~99% Employment Rate (Self-Reported)
RISD reports a very high post-graduation employment or graduate school rate — approximately 99% of graduates securing positions before graduation, according to some reported statistics. Major employers of RISD graduates include Gensler, L’Oréal, Apple, Nike, Google, and dozens of leading design firms, architecture practices, and animation studios.
RISD outcomes by field:
- Industrial design: Strong placement at product design firms, automotive companies, consumer electronics
- Graphic design: New York design studios, publishing, brand identity firms
- Illustration: Publishing, editorial, animation (major studios), freelance practice
- Architecture: Major architecture firms (Gensler is a primary employer), real estate development
- Fine arts: Gallery representation, graduate school, teaching, residencies
RISD’s strongest employment advantage: The global name recognition of the RISD degree means that graduates’ portfolios are opened more quickly and more seriously than equivalent portfolios from less recognized schools.
Parsons: Strong in Fashion and Communication Design
Parsons does not consistently publish a single aggregate employment rate, but specific program outcomes are well-documented:
- Fashion Design: The Parsons fashion alumni network (Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, etc.) creates a pathway to fashion industry employment that is the most direct of any US school. Many Parsons fashion graduates move into industry roles immediately — often at companies where Parsons alumni are already in senior positions.
- Communication Design: Strong placement in New York advertising, branding, and media companies
- Strategic Design and Management: Placement in design consulting and corporate design teams
The Parsons financial reality: New York City’s cost of living is the highest in the US. Entry-level salaries in fashion and design may not cover rent in Manhattan without supplementary income. Korean students who accept positions in New York need to plan for this financial reality.
CalArts: 86% Employment Rate in Animation — with Caveats
CalArts reports approximately 86% overall graduate employment rates. For the Character Animation program specifically, the employment rate is considerably higher — animation graduates are among the most consistently employed of any art school’s graduates, given the structural recruitment pipeline from CalArts to major studios.
CalArts outcomes by field:
- Character Animation: Direct studio employment at Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks at rates that no other animation program can match
- Film/Video: More variable — independent filmmaking, documentary, commercial, and narrative paths with different financial profiles
- Fine Arts: Variable — gallery work, teaching, independent practice, residencies
The CalArts animation employment reality: Entry-level positions at major studios for CalArts Character Animation graduates are among the best-compensated entry-level positions in the creative industries. The starting salaries at Disney or Pixar are significantly higher than entry-level salaries in fashion or gallery work.
Compensation Comparison by Field (Approximate Entry Level)
| Field | School | Approximate Entry Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Character Animation (studio) | CalArts | $70,000–$90,000+ |
| Industrial Design | RISD | $55,000–$75,000 |
| Graphic/Communication Design | RISD/Parsons | $45,000–$65,000 |
| Fashion Design (NYC) | Parsons | $40,000–$60,000 |
| Architecture (entry) | RISD | $45,000–$65,000 |
| Fine Art | RISD/CalArts | Variable (often supplemented) |
For Korean Students: ROI Thinking
For Korean families investing $250,000–$350,000 in four years of US art school, employment outcomes matter financially. CalArts Character Animation graduates arguably have the strongest immediate financial ROI — studio employment at $70,000–$90,000+ directly addresses the educational investment within a few years. RISD design and architecture graduates enter fields with strong compensation trajectories. Parsons fashion graduates face the most financial pressure in the short term given New York’s living costs and fashion’s lower starting salaries.
This is not a reason to avoid fashion at Parsons — passion and career fit matter enormously. But it is a consideration worth understanding clearly before making the investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are employment rate statistics from art schools reliable? Art school employment statistics are self-reported and vary in methodology. RISD’s 99% figure, for example, may include students in graduate school, freelance practice, and positions tangentially related to their degrees. Use these figures as directional indicators rather than precise measurements.
Do Korean international students get jobs in the US after graduation? Yes — many Korean graduates of RISD, Parsons, and CalArts work in the US using OPT (Optional Practical Training). OPT provides 12 months of work authorization after graduation (36 months for STEM-designated programs). Some students obtain H-1B sponsorship from employers for longer-term US employment.
Which school’s graduates earn the most in the first five years? Based on available data, CalArts Character Animation graduates who enter major studio employment tend to have the highest starting salaries. RISD industrial design and architecture graduates also enter well-compensated fields. Fine arts graduates across all schools have the most variable financial trajectories.
Royal Blue Art & Design는 압구정에 위치한 유학미술학원으로, 19년간 한국 학생들의 RISD, Parsons, CalArts 등 미국 최상위 미술대학 입시를 도와왔습니다. [상담 문의하기 →]