Art Center College of Design vs. San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with San Francisco Conservatory of Music in San Francisco, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than San Francisco Conservatory of Music based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 439 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); San Francisco Conservatory of Music is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; San Francisco Conservatory of Music 5:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. San Francisco Conservatory of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or San Francisco Conservatory 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 San Francisco Conservatory of Music than Art Center College of Design ($43,746 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 14.4% lower than at San Francisco Conservatory of Music ($19,632 vs. $22,930).
• San Francisco Conservatory of Music is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Art Center College of Design (about $1,980 more per year; $56,150.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at San Francisco Conservatory of Music than at Art Center College of Design (about $1,980 more per year; $56,150.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Francisco Conservatory of Music than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Francisco Conservatory of Music students is 60.9% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($36,052 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. San Francisco Conservatory of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or San Francisco Conservatory 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 San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Art Center College of Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; San Francisco Conservatory of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Francisco Conservatory of Music Dec 7, 2026.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than San Francisco Conservatory of Music (54.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 27.2% at San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Art Center College of Design vs. San Francisco Conservatory of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and San Francisco Conservatory 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).

• San Francisco Conservatory of Music's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $28,100 more per year than San Francisco Conservatory of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $30,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco Conservatory of Music graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($26,250 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco Conservatory of Music graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($271 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco Conservatory of Music students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 66%)

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.