Art Center College of Design vs. Lesley University

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Lesley University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lesley University is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (2,557 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); Lesley University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Lesley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Lesley University 10:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Lesley University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Lesley University? 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 Lesley University than Art Center College of Design ($32,587 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 1.4% lower than at Lesley University ($19,632 vs. $19,920).
• Art Center College of Design is 58.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lesley University (about $19,914 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $34,256.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.1% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Lesley University (about $19,914 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $34,256.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lesley University 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 16.9% larger than aid received by Lesley University students ($22,412 vs. $19,167).

Art Center College of Design vs. Lesley University Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Lesley University - Test-free.
• Lesley University has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) 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. 7.9% at Lesley University.

Art Center College of Design vs. Lesley University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Lesley University? 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 Lesley University's (49%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $19,700 more per year than Lesley University graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $38,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lesley University graduates have a $6,930 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($24,320 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Lesley University graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($251 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lesley University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 63%)

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.