Art Center College of Design vs. Thomas College

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Thomas College in Waterville, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than Thomas College based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 1,635 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Thomas College is in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Thomas College 20:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Thomas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Thomas College? 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 Thomas College than Art Center College of Design ($19,126 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 28.2% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($14,090 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 70.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $22,346 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 70.2% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Thomas College (about $22,346 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas College than at Art Center College of Design (98% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas College students is 25.9% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($28,212 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. Thomas College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Thomas College - Test-free.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) 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. 16.1% at Thomas College.

Art Center College of Design vs. Thomas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Thomas College? 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 Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $17,300 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas College graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Thomas College graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($279 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Thomas College students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 67%)

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.