Art Center College of Design vs. San Jose State

Comparable Facts

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

San Jose State University is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (37,661 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 Jose State University is in San Jose, CA (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Jose State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; San Jose State University 25:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or San Jose 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 Jose State University than Art Center College of Design ($13,892 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 6.4% lower than at San Jose State University ($19,632 vs. $20,971).
• Art Center College of Design is 544.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Jose State (about $45,760 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $8,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 157.8% higher at Art Center College of Design than at San Jose State University (about $33,160 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $21,010.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Jose State University than at Art Center College of Design (63% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 81.4% larger than aid received by San Jose State University students ($22,412 vs. $12,353).

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

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Jose State University 1010/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Jose State University 19/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; San Jose State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Jose State Dec 15, 2026.
• San Jose State has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) 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. 14.7% at San Jose State.

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

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and San Jose 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 Jose State University's (46%).
• Graduates from San Jose State University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Art Center College of Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,900 vs. $58,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Jose State University graduates have a $16,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($15,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, San Jose State graduates have an estimated $168 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($155 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Jose State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 73%)

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.