Art Center College of Design vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Monterey Bay is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (7,713 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 Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or CSUMB? 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 Monterey Bay than Art Center College of Design ($14,493 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Monterey Bay are 12.2% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($17,234 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 596.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $46,391 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $7,779.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 165.8% higher at Art Center College of Design than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $33,791 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $20,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Monterey Bay than at Art Center College of Design (71% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 83.9% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($22,412 vs. $12,185).

Art Center College of Design vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) 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. 9.8% at CSUMB.

Art Center College of Design vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and CSUMB? 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 Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than CSUMB graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $17,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($14,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $179 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($144 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 66%)

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.