Art Center College of Design vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

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

California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (6,237 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 Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? 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 Polytechnic University Humboldt than Art Center College of Design ($14,090 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 28.1% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($14,118 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 556.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (about $45,920 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $8,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 159.8% higher at Art Center College of Design than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $33,320 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $20,850.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at Art Center College of Design (66% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 108.5% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($22,412 vs. $10,748).

Art Center College of Design vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? 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 California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt and Art Center College of Design.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State Polytechnic University Humboldt 970/1190.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State Polytechnic University Humboldt 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) 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. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Art Center College of Design vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? 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 Polytechnic University Humboldt's (40%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $19,300 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State Polytechnic University Humboldt graduates have a $11,750 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($19,500 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates have an estimated $122 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($201 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 56%)

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.