California College of the Arts vs. Otis College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Otis College of Art and Design 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 Otis College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 1,267 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Otis College of Art and Design is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Otis College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Otis College of Art and Design 9:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Otis College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or Otis College of Art and Design? 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 California College of the Arts than Otis College of Art and Design ($46,823 vs. $54,295).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Otis College of Art and Design are 6% lower than at California College of the Arts ($20,784 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 6.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Otis College of Art and Design (about $3,738 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $56,488.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at California College of the Arts than at Otis College of Art and Design (about $3,738 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $56,488.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Otis College of Art and Design than at California College of the Arts (99% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 51.1% larger than aid received by Otis College of Art and Design students ($32,953 vs. $21,803).

California College of the Arts vs. Otis College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or Otis College of Art and Design? 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 Otis College of Art and Design and California College of the Arts.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsOtis College of Art and Design 1265/1395.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Otis College of Art and Design - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman California College of the Arts students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Otis College of Art and Design (3.31).
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Otis College of Art and Design (81.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 10.5% at Otis College of Art and Design.

California College of the Arts vs. Otis College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and Otis College of Art and Design? 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).

• Otis College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from Otis College of Art and Design earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Otis College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Otis College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($279 vs. $289).
• More Otis College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 62%)

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.