Art Center College of Design vs. CSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with California State University Chico in Chico, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Chico is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 2,308 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); California State University Chico is in Chico, CA (Small City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; California State University Chico 23:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. CSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or CSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Chico than Art Center College of Design ($14,630 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 16% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($16,500 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 539.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $45,698 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $8,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 157.1% higher at Art Center College of Design than at California State University Chico (about $33,098 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $21,072.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Chico than at Art Center College of Design (66% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 94.7% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($22,412 vs. $11,509).

Art Center College of Design vs. CSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or CSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CSU and Art Center College of Design.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Chico 970/1170.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Chico 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; CSU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026.
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Art Center College of Design (74.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 10.2% at CSU.

Art Center College of Design vs. CSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and CSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University Chico's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than CSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $52,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $14,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($17,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $148 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($175 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.