Art Center College of Design vs. California College of the Arts

Should I go to Art Center College of Design or California College of the Arts? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Art Center College of Design or California College of the Arts is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

CalArts Otis College of Art and Design Ringling College of Art and Design RISD SCI-Arc Gallaudet University Pratt Institute Bowdoin College SCAD
Art Center College of Design vs. California College of the Arts comparison
Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts College 3 College 4
Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts
Location Pasadena, CA Oakland, CA
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 2,420 1,501
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website artcenter.edu cca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts
Tuition (In State) $48,942 $53,856
Tuition (Out of State) $48,942 $53,856
Room & Board $14,338 $19,957
Avg Net Price $53,617 $47,862
Avg Grant Aid $16,665 $27,563
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 91%

Admission

Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,285 2,987
Admitted 912 2,261
Acceptance Rate 71% 75.7%
Enrolled % 31.8% 8.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.34
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Communications Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (3%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (77%)
  • Architecture (11%)
  • Communications Technology (4%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • English and Literature (2%)

Outcomes

Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts
Graduation Rate 54% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,300 $43,500
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,250 $28,000
Median Loan Payment $323 $289

Diversity

Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts
% Men 43% 35%
% Women 57% 65%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 18% 27%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 27% 31%
% Unknown Race 1% 7%

Students

Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts
% In-State 45% 42%
% Out-of-State 8% 20%

Campus

Art Center College of Design California College of the Arts
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Art Center College of Design is larger than than California College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (2,420 students vs. 1,501 students)

Art Center College of Design vs. California College of the Arts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or California College of the Arts?

  • California College of the Arts is 10% more expensive to attend than Art Center College of Design for in-state tuition ($53,856.00 vs. $48,942.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10% higher at California College of the Arts than Art Center College of Design ($53,856.00 vs. $48,942.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California College of the Arts than Art Center College of Design ($47,862 vs. $53,617)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 39.2% lower than costs at California College of the Arts ($14,338 vs. $19,957)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at California College of the Arts than Art Center College of Design (91% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 65.4% larger than aid received Art Center College of Design ($27,563 vs. $16,665)

Art Center College of Design vs. California College of the Arts Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or California College of the Arts? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between California College of the Arts or Art Center College of Design .

  • California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (75.7%) than Art Center College of Design (71%)

Art Center College of Design vs. California College of the Arts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Art Center College of Design or California College of the Arts? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between California College of the Arts and Art Center College of Design.

  • The graduation rate at Art Center College of Design is higher than California College of the Arts (54% vs. 49%)
  • Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn on average $14,800 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates after ten years. ($58,300 vs. $43,500)
  • California College of the Arts students graduate with a $3,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates. ($28,000 vs. $31,250)
  • California College of the Arts graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Art Center College of Design graduates. ($289 vs. $323)
  • More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/