Ten years, $113K, and one life-changing degree: The ROI of a CCA design MBA

Ten years ago, I made a bet on myself…and a $113,000 one at that.

I’d just been accepted into the Design MBA (DMBA) program at California College of the Arts (CCA). It wasn’t the cheapest option (it cost me Stanford-level money), and as someone from a creative background, it wasn’t an obvious path either. But I believed in design as a strategic advantage. I wanted a seat at the table where decisions were being made. And I wanted the vocabulary, credibility, and confidence to get there.

A few months back, I made my final student loan payment: $80K in principal. $33K in interest. $113K total over ten years. For most of that time, I was making $900 monthly payments—money that could have gone to a mortgage, investments, or even peace of mind.

But you know what? It was absolutely worth it.

And I’m not saying that just to feel better about the bill. I ran the numbers. I asked the hard questions. I did the math to figure out whether the DMBA truly changed my trajectory—or if I could’ve gotten to where I am without it.

Spoiler: It changed everything.

What I paid

Let’s start with the reality:

• Loan principal: $80,000
• Total paid over ten years: $113,000
• Interest alone: $33,000
• Monthly payments: Around $900
• Opportunity costs: Significant (no house, limited savings, low investing)

At first, I questioned everything. My first job post-DMBA, in 2015, paid just $52,000. No equity. No bonus. And yes, I was living in the Bay Area. It wasn’t exactly the glamorous leap I had hoped for.

But things changed … quickly!

My career in numbers

Here’s how my compensation evolved over the last decade, year by year:

Key takeaway?

The DMBA helped me leap from low-paying, entry-level roles into senior strategic positions in less than five years. By 2019, I was managing teams and driving high-impact programs at some of the world’s biggest companies. By 2024, I was leading UX research at scale at a large FinTech company.

The ROI, calculated

Let’s break down the return on investment:

• Total cost paid: $113,000
• Estimated earnings differential (with DMBA vs. without): $1.1 million+
• Gross ROI: ~9.7x
• Net ROI (after subtracting loan): ~8.7x

Even if I had taken a slower, more traditional path—one that didn’t require student loans—I wouldn’t have come close to the compounding financial and professional gains this degree unlocked.

And this doesn’t even factor in the equity upside from later-stage roles, or what I missed by not investing early. Still, the pure salary trajectory alone made the DMBA a clear win.

The turning point

The real shift came exactly one year after graduating. In 2016, I landed a role as a design strategist at a startup. That was the job that lit the fire.

• I used customer research to help define new product lines.
• I created a product experience framework used by finance to forecast sign-ups.
• I led brand architecture during a high-stakes rebrand.

This was the first time I got to fully apply my DMBA education…and it was obvious: I wasn’t just leading teams; I was steering product strategy and ensuring research shaped what we built and why.

From there, each step up made more sense. I had the foundation. I had the language. I could make connections across business, design, and tech that others couldn’t see.

What the DMBA actually gave me

Here’s what the DMBA unlocked that I couldn’t have gotten from a boot camp, a corporate training program, or sheer work experience alone:

1. Confidence to lead

Before the DMBA, I knew I had good ideas—but I didn’t always know how to frame them. The program gave me the confidence to lead teams, push for vision, and walk into rooms with stakeholders and executives without hesitation. I stopped waiting for permission.

2. Strategic fluency

I learned how to connect the dots between user insights, financial models, and brand strategy. That systems-thinking approach made me indispensable—especially on cross-functional teams trying to scale.

3. Role creation, not just role filling

At two companies, I wrote my own job description. I became the first UX Research Director at one organization. At another, I helped define what research should be, how it should work, and who we should hire. The DMBA gave me the tools (and credibility) to build the role I wanted, not just accept what was offered.

4. A powerful network

I’ve leaned on the DMBA network more times than I can count — for job referrals, mentorship, and thought partnership. The people I met in this program are still some of the smartest, kindest, most talented professionals I know.

The invisible costs

Let me be real: this journey wasn’t without its trade-offs.

• I didn’t buy a house in my 30s.
• I delayed investing.
• I lived lean while peers built wealth.
• I often questioned whether the degree “worked.”

That self-doubt doesn’t show up on a spreadsheet, but it was very real. Especially in the early years, when I was paying nearly $1,000/month in loans with little to show for it financially.

But that doubt eventually gave way to growth.

The career I built

Today, as I mentioned above, I’m a director of UX Research at a large FinTech company, overseeing teams and leading insights at scale. I work at the intersection of product, design, and data. I help shape the future of user experiences across millions of customers.

Oh…and early next year, my very first book will be published!

Test It: A Playbook for Bringing Structure and Scale to Usability Research (early 2026)

The book distills everything I’ve learned building research teams, driving product strategy, and bringing design thinking into the messy middle of business decision-making. It’s the book I wish I’d had 10 years ago. And it simply would not exist without the DMBA.

Who this degree is really for

If you’re a designer, researcher, strategist, or creative thinker considering this program, here’s my honest take:

The DMBA is for you if:

• You want to move from execution to leadership
• You want to bridge business and design fluently
• You want to shape roles, not just apply for them
• You want a creative yet rigorous business education
• You’re okay with ambiguity—and committed to growth

The DMBA might not be right if you’re purely ROI-driven in the short term, or if you’re looking for a marquee brand to open doors without doing the work. CCA is respected, but it’s not Stanford or HBS. This program gives you tools and frameworks, but you build the path. And, by the way, even at the more prestigious, marquee schools, like Stanford GSB, UC Berkeley Haas, etc., that path is seldom built for you, especially in the age of AI and times of uncertainty. That’s where the DMBA stands out.

Final thoughts

Looking back, I don’t regret a single dollar.

Yes, $113,000 is a lot. Yes, the early years were tough. But the DMBA was a catalyst. It gave me the mindset, skills, and confidence to build the career I wanted—and to do it on my terms.

If you’re considering whether to take the leap, I’ll leave you with this:

The degree didn’t just change my income. It changed my identity.
It taught me to see myself as a strategic leader—not just a practitioner.
It gave me leverage—and a future I couldn’t have built alone.

Was it worth it?

Hell yes.

TL;DR

Thinking about applying to the CCA DMBA? Explore the program.

Or reach out to an alum. We’re real, we’re honest, and we’re here to help you decide if this bold, creative business degree is the right next step.

Meg Cain (MBA Design Strategy 2014) is the author of the forthcoming book Test it. A Practical Framework for Usability Research (early 2026). Part mentor, part manual —designed for researchers and designers. Its goal is to restore structure, consistency, and standards to the practice of usability research, helping teams bring more rigor and reliability to how they test, learn, and build.