Art Center College of Design vs. SCI-Arc

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than SCI-Arc based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 418 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Southern California Institute of Architecture is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Southern California Institute of Architecture 9:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. SCI-Arc Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or SCI-Arc? 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 Southern California Institute of Architecture than Art Center College of Design ($28,985 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern California Institute of Architecture are 30.7% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($13,600 vs. $19,632).
• Southern California Institute of Architecture is 3.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Art Center College of Design (about $1,992 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at SCI-Arc than at Art Center College of Design (about $1,992 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Art Center College of Design than at Southern California Institute of Architecture (60% vs. 26%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern California Institute of Architecture students is 90.2% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($42,627 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. SCI-Arc Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or SCI-Arc? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCI-Arc and Art Center College of Design.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresSouthern California Institute of Architecture 1020/1230.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; SCI-Arc - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SCI-Arc Jan 15, 2027.
• SCI-Arc has a higher acceptance rate (76.6%) 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. 7% at SCI-Arc.

Art Center College of Design vs. SCI-Arc Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and SCI-Arc? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Southern California Institute of Architecture's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $11,900 more per year than SCI-Arc graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Art Center College of Design graduates have a $11,500 lower median loan debt than SCI-Arc graduates ($31,250 vs. $42,750).
• Among borrowers, Art Center College of Design graduates have an estimated $119 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCI-Arc graduates ($323 vs. $442).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCI-Arc students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 62%)

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.