California College of the Arts vs. Mount Saint Mary's University

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Mount Saint Mary's University in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Saint Mary's University is larger than California College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (2,312 students vs. 1,308 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Mount Saint Mary's University is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Saint Mary's University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Mount Saint Mary's University 8:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Mount Saint Mary's University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or Mount Saint Mary's University? 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 Mount Saint Mary's University than California College of the Arts ($27,368 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Saint Mary's University are 29.8% lower than at California College of the Arts ($15,518 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 21.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Saint Mary's University (about $10,662 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $49,564.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.5% higher at California College of the Arts than at Mount Saint Mary's University (about $10,662 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $49,564.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Saint Mary's University than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Saint Mary's University students is 19% larger than aid received by California College of the Arts students ($39,218 vs. $32,953).

California College of the Arts vs. Mount Saint Mary's University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or Mount Saint Mary's University? 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 Mount Saint Mary's University and California College of the Arts.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMount Saint Mary's University 900/1110.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMount Saint Mary's University 18/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Mount Saint Mary's University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Mount Saint Mary's University students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at California College of the Arts (3.34).
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Mount Saint Mary's University (73.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 12% at Mount Saint Mary's University.

California College of the Arts vs. Mount Saint Mary's University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and Mount Saint Mary's University? 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).

• California College of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Mount Saint Mary's University's (47%).
• Graduates from Mount Saint Mary's University earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Saint Mary's University graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($25,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Mount Saint Mary's University graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($258 vs. $289).
• More California College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Saint Mary's University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 59%)

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.