Art Center College of Design vs. USC

Comparable Facts

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

University of Southern California is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (46,566 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 Southern California is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; University of Southern California 9:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. USC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or USC? 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 Southern California than Art Center College of Design ($43,412 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 1.5% lower than at University of Southern California ($19,632 vs. $19,931).
• University of Southern California is 33.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Art Center College of Design (about $17,927 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.1% higher at USC than at Art Center College of Design (about $17,927 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $54,170.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Art Center College of Design (70% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 109.2% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($46,897 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. USC Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Southern California 1450/1550.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Southern California 32/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; USC - Test optional.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than USC (9.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 43.3% at USC.

Art Center College of Design vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and USC? 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 Southern California's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $27,200 more per year than Art Center College of Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $58,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern California graduates have a $8,875 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($22,375 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, USC graduates have an estimated $92 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($231 vs. $323).
• More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Art Center College of Design students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.