CMA vs. Design Institute of San Diego

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with Design Institute of San Diego in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Maritime Academy is larger than Design Institute of San Diego based on total student enrollment (837 students vs. 94 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); Design Institute of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Design Institute of San Diego is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; Design Institute of San Diego 8:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 34.2% lower than at Design Institute of San Diego ($14,536 vs. $22,086).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30% higher at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Maritime Academy (about $6,756 more per year; $29,300 vs. $22,544).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Maritime Academy (100% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Design Institute of San Diego students is 7.8% larger than aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students ($11,901 vs. $11,038).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at CMA, open admission at Design Institute of San Diego.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 28.6% at Design Institute of San Diego.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Maritime Academy graduates have a $15,059 lower median loan debt than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($25,526 vs. $40,585).
• Among borrowers, CMA graduates have an estimated $156 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($263 vs. $419).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Design Institute of San Diego students, three years after graduation (79% vs. 68%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.