Art Center College of Design vs. College of the Atlantic

Should I go to Art Center College of Design or College of the Atlantic? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Art Center College of Design or College of the Atlantic 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.

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Art Center College of Design vs. College of the Atlantic comparison
Art Center College of Design College of the Atlantic College 3 College 4
Art Center College of Design College of the Atlantic
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Overview

Art Center College of Design College of the Atlantic
Location Pasadena, CA Bar Harbor, ME
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 2,382 367
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website artcenter.edu coa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Art Center College of Design College of the Atlantic
Tuition (In State) $50,606 $45,630
Tuition (Out of State) $50,606 $45,630
Room & Board $17,272 $10,101
Avg Net Price $53,306 $22,692
Avg Grant Aid $18,219 $33,884
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 98%

Admission

Art Center College of Design College of the Atlantic
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,339 446
Admitted 1,004 290
Acceptance Rate 75% 65%
Enrolled % 32.1% 27.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.69
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 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Art Center College of Design College of the Atlantic
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Communications Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (3%)
  • General Studies (100%)

Outcomes

Art Center College of Design College of the Atlantic
Graduation Rate 54% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,300 $28,200
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,250 $19,750
Median Loan Payment $323 $204

Diversity

Art Center College of Design College of the Atlantic
% Men 6% 1%
% Women 7% 1%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 18% 72%
% Black 1% 1%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 27% 17%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Art Center College of Design College of the Atlantic
% In-State 45% 4%
% Out-of-State 8% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Art Center College of Design is larger than than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (2,382 students vs. 367 students)

Art Center College of Design vs. College of the Atlantic Cost Comparison

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

  • Art Center College of Design is 10.9% more expensive to attend than College of the Atlantic for in-state tuition ($50,606.00 vs. $45,630.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.9% higher at Art Center College of Design than College of the Atlantic ($50,606.00 vs. $45,630.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of the Atlantic than Art Center College of Design ($22,692 vs. $53,306)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 71% lower than costs at Art Center College of Design ($10,101 vs. $17,272)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of the Atlantic than Art Center College of Design (98% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Atlantic students is 86% larger than aid received Art Center College of Design ($33,884 vs. $18,219)

Art Center College of Design vs. College of the Atlantic Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (75%) than College of the Atlantic (65%)

Art Center College of Design vs. College of the Atlantic Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Art Center College of Design or College of the Atlantic? 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 College of the Atlantic and Art Center College of Design.

  • The graduation rate at College of the Atlantic is higher than Art Center College of Design (71% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn on average $30,100 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates after ten years. ($58,300 vs. $28,200)
  • College of the Atlantic students graduate with a $11,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates. ($19,750 vs. $31,250)
  • College of the Atlantic graduates are paying $119 less per month on federal student loans than Art Center College of Design graduates. ($204 vs. $323)
  • More College of the Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Art Center College of Design students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 73%)

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