Art Center College of Design vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

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

San Francisco State University is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (22,563 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); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or San Francisco State? 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 State University than Art Center College of Design ($13,168 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 11.8% lower than at San Francisco State University ($19,632 vs. $22,266).
• Art Center College of Design is 581.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $46,220 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 163.6% higher at Art Center College of Design than at San Francisco State University (about $33,620 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Francisco State University than at Art Center College of Design (77% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 72.5% larger than aid received by San Francisco State University students ($22,412 vs. $12,996).

Art Center College of Design vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Francisco State University 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Francisco State University 16/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) 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. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

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

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State University's (46%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than San Francisco State graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($17,250 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($178 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco State 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.