Cal State Fullerton vs. Design Institute of San Diego

Deciding between California State University Fullerton and Design Institute of San Diego? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California State University Fullerton

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal State Fullerton Fullerton, CA
  • Design Institute of San Diego San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal State Fullerton Midsize City
  • Design Institute of San Diego Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal State Fullerton 43,662
  • Design Institute of San Diego 94
  • Type
  • Cal State Fullerton Public 4 Year
  • Design Institute of San Diego Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal State Fullerton #799
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal State Fullerton -
  • Design Institute of San Diego -
  • Status
  • Cal State Fullerton Non-profit
  • Design Institute of San Diego For-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal State Fullerton
  • Design Institute of San Diego

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal State Fullerton $7,470
  • Design Institute of San Diego $29,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal State Fullerton $20,070
  • Design Institute of San Diego $29,300
  • Room & Board
  • Cal State Fullerton $19,080
  • Design Institute of San Diego $22,086
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal State Fullerton $7,064
  • Design Institute of San Diego $44,010
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal State Fullerton $11,234
  • Design Institute of San Diego $11,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal State Fullerton 78%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal State Fullerton 53,559
  • Design Institute of San Diego 7
  • Admitted
  • Cal State Fullerton 48,482
  • Design Institute of San Diego 7
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal State Fullerton 90.5%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 100% Open
  • Enrolled
  • Cal State Fullerton 14.2%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 28.6% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal State Fullerton 1090
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal State Fullerton 20
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal State Fullerton 3.77
  • Design Institute of San Diego -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal State Fullerton A-
  • Design Institute of San Diego -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal State Fullerton Very Easy
  • Design Institute of San Diego Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal State Fullerton
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • ACT Range
  • Cal State Fullerton 18/23
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • SAT Range
  • Cal State Fullerton 1000/1180
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal State Fullerton Test-free
  • Design Institute of San Diego Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026
  • Design Institute of San Diego

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal State Fullerton 26:1
  • Design Institute of San Diego 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal State Fullerton
    • Business (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Design Institute of San Diego
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal State Fullerton 50%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal State Fullerton $49,000
  • Design Institute of San Diego $38,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal State Fullerton 69%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal State Fullerton $15,000
  • Design Institute of San Diego $40,585
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal State Fullerton $155
  • Design Institute of San Diego $419

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal State Fullerton 43%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 9%
  • % Women
  • Cal State Fullerton 57%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 91%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal State Fullerton Very High
  • Design Institute of San Diego High
  • HBCU
  • Cal State Fullerton No
  • Design Institute of San Diego No
  • % White
  • Cal State Fullerton 22%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 58%
  • % Asian
  • Cal State Fullerton 22%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 9%
  • % Black
  • Cal State Fullerton 2%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal State Fullerton 40%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 17%
  • % Native American
  • Cal State Fullerton 0%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal State Fullerton 0%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal State Fullerton 4%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 0%
  • % International
  • Cal State Fullerton 6%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal State Fullerton 4%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal State Fullerton 99%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal State Fullerton 1%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 0%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal State Fullerton Yes
  • Design Institute of San Diego No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal State Fullerton No
  • Design Institute of San Diego No
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal State Fullerton Yes
  • Design Institute of San Diego No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal State Fullerton No
  • Design Institute of San Diego Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal State Fullerton Yes
  • Design Institute of San Diego No
  • Learn More
  • Cal State Fullerton Details
  • Design Institute of San Diego Details

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Fullerton is larger than Design Institute of San Diego based on total student enrollment (43,662 students vs. 94 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); Design Institute of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State University Fullerton 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 Fullerton 26:1; Design Institute of San Diego 8:1.

Cal State Fullerton vs. Design Institute of San Diego Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Fullerton or Design Institute of San Diego? 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 Fullerton than Design Institute of San Diego ($7,064 vs. $44,010).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Fullerton are 13.6% lower than at Design Institute of San Diego ($19,080 vs. $22,086).
  • Design Institute of San Diego is 292.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Fullerton (about $21,830 more per year; $29,300.00 vs. $7,470.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46% higher at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Fullerton (about $9,230 more per year; $29,300.00 vs. $20,070.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Fullerton (100% vs. 78%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Design Institute of San Diego students is 5.9% larger than aid received by California State University Fullerton students ($11,901 vs. $11,234).

Cal State Fullerton vs. Design Institute of San Diego Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Fullerton or Design Institute of San Diego? 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 Design Institute of San Diego and Cal State Fullerton.

  • Design Institute of San Diego reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: California State University Fullerton 1000/1180.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: California State University Fullerton 18/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Fullerton - Test-free; Design Institute of San Diego - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026.
  • Design Institute of San Diego has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Cal State Fullerton (90.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton vs. 28.6% at Design Institute of San Diego.

Cal State Fullerton vs. Design Institute of San Diego Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Fullerton and Design Institute of San Diego? 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.

  • Design Institute of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than California State University Fullerton's (50%).
  • Graduates from California State University Fullerton earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than Design Institute of San Diego graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,000 vs. $38,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fullerton graduates have a $25,585 lower median loan debt than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($15,000 vs. $40,585).
  • Among borrowers, Cal State Fullerton graduates have an estimated $264 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($155 vs. $419).
  • More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Design Institute of San Diego students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.