Cal State LA vs. Design Institute of San Diego

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

California State University Los Angeles
Design Institute of San Diego

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Cal State LA (91.3% admitted vs 100%). Typical SAT 970 vs N/A.
  • Cheaper after aid: Cal State LA. Average net price is $4,460 vs $44,010 at Design Institute of San Diego.
  • Graduation: Cal State LA 36% vs Design Institute of San Diego 62%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Cal State LA $46,900 vs Design Institute of San Diego $38,900 (median).
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Key differences

California State University Los Angeles Design Institute of San Diego
Acceptance rate
Cal State LA more selective
Cal State LA91.3%
Design Institute of San Diego100%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Cal State LA higher
Cal State LA870-1060
Design Institute of San Diego-
Average net price
Cal State LA $39,550 less
Cal State LA$4,460
Design Institute of San Diego$44,010
In-state tuition
Cal State LA $22,140 less
Cal State LA$7,160
Design Institute of San Diego$29,300
Out-of-state tuition
Cal State LA $9,540 less
Cal State LA$19,760
Design Institute of San Diego$29,300
Graduation rate
Design Institute of San Diego +26 pts
Cal State LA36%
Design Institute of San Diego62%
Median earnings (10 years)
Cal State LA +$8,000
Cal State LA$46,900
Design Institute of San Diego$38,900

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Cal State LA 32,723
  • Design Institute of San Diego 7
  • Admitted
  • Cal State LA 29,860
  • Design Institute of San Diego 7
  • Acceptance rate
  • Cal State LA 91.3%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 100% Open
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Cal State LA 9.4%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 28.6% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal State LA 970
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal State LA 17
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • Average high school GPA
  • Cal State LA 3.31
  • Design Institute of San Diego -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Cal State LA B+
  • Design Institute of San Diego -
  • Admissions standards
  • Cal State LA Extremely Easy
  • Design Institute of San Diego Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Cal State LA
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • SAT range
  • Cal State LA 870-1060
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • ACT range
  • Cal State LA 15-20
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • Submit test scores
  • Cal State LA Test-free
  • Design Institute of San Diego Open admission
  • Application deadline
  • Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027
  • Design Institute of San Diego
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Cal State LA $7,160
  • Design Institute of San Diego $29,300
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Cal State LA $19,760
  • Design Institute of San Diego $29,300
  • Room & board
  • Cal State LA $19,696
  • Design Institute of San Diego $22,086
  • Average net price
  • Cal State LA $4,460
  • Design Institute of San Diego $44,010
  • Average grant aid
  • Cal State LA $13,824
  • Design Institute of San Diego $11,901
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Cal State LA 94%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Cal State LA 36%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 62%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Cal State LA $46,900
  • Design Institute of San Diego $38,900
  • Making student loan payments
  • Cal State LA 57%
  • Design Institute of San Diego 68%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Cal State LA $12,920
  • Design Institute of San Diego $40,585
  • Median loan payment
  • Cal State LA $133
  • Design Institute of San Diego $419
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Cal State LA 21:1
  • Design Institute of San Diego 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • Cal State LA
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Design Institute of San Diego
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Location
  • Cal State LA Los Angeles, CA
  • Design Institute of San Diego San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal State LA Large City
  • Design Institute of San Diego Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal State LA 23,163
  • Design Institute of San Diego 94
  • Type
  • Cal State LA Public 4 Year
  • Design Institute of San Diego Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Cal State LA #934
  • Design Institute of San Diego

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles is larger than Design Institute of San Diego based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 94 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California State University Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Design Institute of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State University Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 21:1; Design Institute of San Diego 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Los Angeles are 10.8% lower than at Design Institute of San Diego ($19,696 vs. $22,086).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 48.3% higher at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Los Angeles (about $9,540 more per year; $29,300 vs. $19,760).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Los Angeles (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 16.2% larger than aid received by Design Institute of San Diego students ($13,824 vs. $11,901).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Cal State LA, open admission at Design Institute of San Diego.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Cal State LA vs. 28.6% at Design Institute of San Diego.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $27,665 lower median loan debt than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($12,920 vs. $40,585).
  • Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $286 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($133 vs. $419).
  • More Design Institute of San Diego graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation (68% vs. 57%).

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

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