Admit rate has ranged 40%–50% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Gnomon is a hyper-specialized, industry-focused school for visual effects, gaming, and animation that operates like a Hollywood talent pipeline. With a selective 40-43% acceptance rate and a 45,000 sq ft state-of-the-art campus in North Hollywood, it immerses students in professional-grade training and LA's entertainment ecosystem. Graduates boast a 67-78% completion rate and enter the field with niche technical skills, though early-career earnings hover around $36k.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
294
In-state tuition
$37,635
Out-of-state tuition
$37,635
Location
North Hollywood, CA
Campus Size
45,000 sq ft
Avg Aid Award
$6,209
Specialization
VFX, Gaming, Animation
Acceptance Rate
40-43%
Graduation Rate
67-78%
Financial Aid Recipients
80% of freshmen
Median Early-Career Earnings
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$114,785
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.2×
Median debt at graduation
$28,332
Graduation rate
100%
First-year retention
90%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
75%
Pell (lower-income) share
47%
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Financial health
2.5 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
199
Summer high
88°F
Winter low
45°F
Annual rain
20.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Gnomon?
Gnomon's acceptance rate is approximately 42% (North Hollywood, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Gnomon cost?
At Gnomon, the average net price (after aid) is about $51,949 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Gnomon?
Gnomon enrolls approximately 294 undergraduate students.
Where is Gnomon located?
Gnomon is located in North Hollywood, CA.
Admissions
Gnomon is selective but not cutthroat, accepting 40-43% of applicants (23-55 students annually) with a rolling deadline. Unlike traditional colleges, it doesn't require SAT/ACT scores—a reflection of its focus on portfolio over academics. The admissions process aligns with Common Data Set (CDS)A standardized report most colleges publish each year with admissions, test-score, and financial-aid figures, making schools easier to compare. standards, though specifics are opaque beyond email inquiries to admissions@gnomon.edu.
Gnomon’s curriculum is a tightly focused bootcamp for entertainment-industry roles, offering a BFA in Digital Production (120 credits) and high-unit certificates. Programs blend foundational art skills with studio-specific pipelines for film, TV, and games—think Maya, ZBrush, and Unreal Engine workflows. The school claims a (vs. 49% national average), though external sources suggest 67-78%, likely skewed by its non-traditional, career-oriented student body.
Life at Gnomon revolves around its 45,000 sq ft North Hollywood campus, a sleek, three-story hub with labs, galleries, and lounges designed to mimic studio environments. Students tap into LA’s art scene—museums, theaters, and industry events—while clubs and mentorship programs foster collaboration. Instagram reels showcase student work in VFX and animation, often with professional-grade polish. The vibe is less ‘college’ and more ‘career incubator,’ with proximity to Hollywood studios providing networking fuel.
Gnomon’s 67-78% graduation rate outpaces many art schools, with male students historically faring better. Alumni earn ~$36k one year post-graduation—modest but typical for entry-level VFX roles. The school’s niche focus means grads exit with studio-ready reels, though the ROI debate rages on Reddit threads given the industry’s volatility.
Tuition isn’t publicly listed, but the net price calculator suggests costs are offset by 80% of freshmen receiving aid (~$6,209 average). The estimated annual Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. hovers around $45k, steep for a specialized certificate but competitive against four-year art degrees.
Gnomon is Hollywood’s best-kept secret—a no-frills, high-intensity training ground where students graduate with demos that rival professional work. Its North Hollywood location and industry-tied faculty create a direct pipeline to studios, though the price tag demands conviction. This isn’t a liberal arts college; it’s a career launchpad for the single-minded.
