Art Center College of Design vs. Maharishi International University

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Maharishi International University in Fairfield, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Maharishi International University is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (2,592 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); Maharishi International University is in Fairfield, IA (Remote Town setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Maharishi International University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Maharishi International University 13:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Maharishi International University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Maharishi International 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 Maharishi International University than Art Center College of Design ($16,281 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maharishi International University are 62.3% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($7,400 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 227.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maharishi International University (about $37,640 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $16,530.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 227.7% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Maharishi International University (about $37,640 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $16,530.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maharishi International University than at Art Center College of Design (97% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 95% larger than aid received by Maharishi International University students ($22,412 vs. $11,496).

Art Center College of Design vs. Maharishi International University Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Maharishi International University - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Maharishi International University Jul 30, 2027.
• Maharishi International University has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) 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. 75.3% at Maharishi International University.

Art Center College of Design vs. Maharishi International University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Maharishi International 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 Maharishi International University's (50%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $29,000 more per year than Maharishi International University graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $29,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Art Center College of Design graduates have a $7,787 lower median loan debt than Maharishi International University graduates ($31,250 vs. $39,037).
• Among borrowers, Art Center College of Design graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Maharishi International University graduates ($323 vs. $403).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maharishi International University 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.