Art Center College of Design vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

University of San Diego is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (9,714 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); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or USD? 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 University of San Diego than Art Center College of Design ($37,918 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 1.4% lower than at University of San Diego ($19,632 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Art Center College of Design (about $5,316 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.8% higher at USD than at Art Center College of Design (about $5,316 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Diego than at Art Center College of Design (84% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 82.8% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($40,965 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 12.4% at USD.

Art Center College of Design vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and USD? 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).

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $11,900 more per year than Art Center College of Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $58,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $8,346 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($22,904 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($236 vs. $323).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Art Center College of Design students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.