Art Center College of Design vs. Sonoma State University

Comparable Facts

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

Sonoma State University is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (5,891 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); Sonoma State University is in Rohnert Park, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sonoma State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Sonoma State University 17:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Sonoma State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Sonoma State 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 Sonoma State University than Art Center College of Design ($14,614 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sonoma State University are 14.4% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($16,802 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 528.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sonoma State University (about $45,546 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $8,624.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 155.2% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Sonoma State University (about $32,946 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $21,224.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sonoma State University than at Art Center College of Design (83% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 146.4% larger than aid received by Sonoma State University students ($22,412 vs. $9,094).

Art Center College of Design vs. Sonoma State University Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSonoma State University 950/1150.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSonoma State University 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Sonoma State University - Test-free.
• Sonoma State University has a higher acceptance rate (93.4%) 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. 8.3% at Sonoma State University.

Art Center College of Design vs. Sonoma State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Sonoma State 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).

• Sonoma State University's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Sonoma State University graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $49,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sonoma State University graduates have a $13,750 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($17,500 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Sonoma State University graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($180 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sonoma State University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

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.