California College of the Arts vs. FIDM LA

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California College of the Arts is larger than FIDM LA based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising 135:1.

California College of the Arts vs. FIDM LA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or FIDM LA? 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 FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising than California College of the Arts ($39,494 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising are 0.1% lower than at California College of the Arts ($22,086 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 72.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than FIDM LA (about $25,226 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $35,000.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 72.1% higher at California College of the Arts than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (about $25,226 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $35,000.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California College of the Arts than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (96% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 138.2% larger than aid received by FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising students ($32,953 vs. $13,834).

California College of the Arts vs. FIDM LA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or FIDM LA? 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 FIDM LA and California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); FIDM LA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).

California College of the Arts vs. FIDM LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and FIDM LA? 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).

• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from California College of the Arts earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than FIDM LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($13,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, FIDM LA graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($134 vs. $289).
• More California College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FIDM LA students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 61%)

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.