Art Center College of Design vs. Cal State Fullerton

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Fullerton is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (43,662 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 Fullerton is in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Fullerton is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; California State University Fullerton 26:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Cal State Fullerton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Cal State Fullerton? 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 Fullerton than Art Center College of Design ($7,064 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fullerton are 2.8% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($19,080 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 625.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Fullerton (about $46,700 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $7,470.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 169.9% higher at Art Center College of Design than at California State University Fullerton (about $34,100 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $20,070.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fullerton than at Art Center College of Design (78% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 99.5% larger than aid received by California State University Fullerton students ($22,412 vs. $11,234).

Art Center College of Design vs. Cal State Fullerton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or Cal State Fullerton? 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 Cal State Fullerton and Art Center College of Design.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Fullerton 1000/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Fullerton 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Cal State Fullerton - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026.
• Cal State Fullerton has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) 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. 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton.

Art Center College of Design vs. Cal State Fullerton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Cal State Fullerton? 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).

• Art Center College of Design's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than California State University Fullerton's (50%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than Cal State Fullerton graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fullerton graduates have a $16,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($15,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Fullerton graduates have an estimated $168 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($155 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State Fullerton students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

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.