Cal State Fullerton vs. Design Institute of San Diego

California State University Fullerton and Design Institute of San Diego side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

California State University Fullerton
Design Institute of San Diego

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Cal State Fullerton (90.5% admitted vs 100%). Typical SAT 1090 vs N/A.
  • Cheaper after aid: Cal State Fullerton. Average net price is $7,064 vs $44,010 at Design Institute of San Diego.
  • Graduation: Cal State Fullerton 50% vs Design Institute of San Diego 62%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Cal State Fullerton $49,000 vs Design Institute of San Diego $38,900 (median).
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Key differences

California State University Fullerton Design Institute of San Diego
Acceptance rate
Cal State Fullerton more selective
Cal State Fullerton90.5%
Design Institute of San Diego100%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Cal State Fullerton higher
Cal State Fullerton1000-1180
Design Institute of San Diego-
Average net price
Cal State Fullerton $36,946 less
Cal State Fullerton$7,064
Design Institute of San Diego$44,010
In-state tuition
Cal State Fullerton $21,830 less
Cal State Fullerton$7,470
Design Institute of San Diego$29,300
Out-of-state tuition
Cal State Fullerton $9,230 less
Cal State Fullerton$20,070
Design Institute of San Diego$29,300
Graduation rate
Design Institute of San Diego +12 pts
Cal State Fullerton50%
Design Institute of San Diego62%
Median earnings (10 years)
Cal State Fullerton +$10,100
Cal State Fullerton$49,000
Design Institute of San Diego$38,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • 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
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • 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
  • SAT range
  • Cal State Fullerton 1000-1180
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • ACT range
  • Cal State Fullerton 18-23
  • 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
  • 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%
  • 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
  • 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%)
  • 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

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 tables 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.

Cost details

  • 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).
  • 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 vs. $20,070).
  • 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).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Cal State Fullerton, open admission at Design Institute of San Diego.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton vs. 28.6% at Design Institute of San Diego.

Loans and repayment

  • 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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