Art Center College of Design vs. Cal State LA

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Los Angeles is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (23,163 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 Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; California State University Los Angeles 21:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Cal State LA? 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 Los Angeles than Art Center College of Design ($4,460 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 0.3% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($19,632 vs. $19,696).
• Art Center College of Design is 656.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $47,010 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 174.1% higher at Art Center College of Design than at California State University Los Angeles (about $34,410 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at Art Center College of Design (94% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 62.1% larger than aid received by California State University Los Angeles students ($22,412 vs. $13,824).

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

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Los Angeles 15/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Cal State LA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027.
• Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) 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. 9.4% at Cal State LA.

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

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Cal State LA? 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 Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Cal State LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $18,330 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($12,920 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $190 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($133 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 57%)

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.