CMA vs. Laguna College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Maritime Academy is larger than Laguna College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (837 students vs. 775 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); Laguna College of Art and Design is in Laguna Beach, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Laguna College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; Laguna College of Art and Design 9:1.

CMA vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMA or Laguna 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 State University Maritime Academy than Laguna College of Art and Design ($19,040 vs. $47,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 25.7% lower than at Laguna College of Art and Design ($14,536 vs. $19,553).
• Laguna College of Art and Design is 277.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMA (about $27,556 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $9,944.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.3% higher at Laguna College of Art and Design than at California State University Maritime Academy (about $14,956 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $22,544.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laguna College of Art and Design than at California State University Maritime Academy (100% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Laguna College of Art and Design students is 1% larger than aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students ($11,153 vs. $11,038).

CMA vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMA or Laguna College of Art and Design? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Laguna College of Art and Design and CMA.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMA - Test-free; Laguna College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; Laguna College of Art and Design Aug 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Laguna College of Art and Design students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at CMA (3.43).
• CMA has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than Laguna College of Art and Design (94.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 23.1% at Laguna College of Art and Design.

CMA vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMA and Laguna College of Art and Design? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• California State University Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Laguna College of Art and Design's (56%).
• Graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn a median of about $50,400 more per year than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Maritime Academy graduates have a $1,173 lower median loan debt than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($25,526 vs. $26,699).
• Among borrowers, CMA graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($263 vs. $276).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laguna College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.