Art Center College of Design vs. Curtis Institute of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than Curtis Institute of Music based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Curtis Institute of Music is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Curtis Institute of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Curtis Institute of Music 2:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Curtis Institute of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Curtis Institute of Music? 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 Curtis Institute of Music than Art Center College of Design ($23,686 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 6.7% lower than at Curtis Institute of Music ($19,632 vs. $21,035).
• In-state tuition differs between Art Center College of Design and Curtis Institute of Music ($54,170.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between Art Center College of Design and Curtis Institute of Music ($54,170.00 vs. $0.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Curtis Institute of Music than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 188.3% larger than aid received by Curtis Institute of Music students ($22,412 vs. $7,774).

Art Center College of Design vs. Curtis Institute of Music Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Curtis Institute of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Curtis Institute of Music Dec 18, 2026.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Curtis Institute of Music (4.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 92.3% at Curtis Institute of Music.

Art Center College of Design vs. Curtis Institute of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Curtis Institute of Music? 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).

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.