Cal State LA vs. Laguna College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles is larger than Laguna College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Laguna College of Art and Design is in Laguna Beach, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 21:1; Laguna College of Art and Design 9:1.

Cal State LA vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State LA 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 Los Angeles than Laguna College of Art and Design ($4,460 vs. $47,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laguna College of Art and Design are 0.7% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($19,553 vs. $19,696).
• Laguna College of Art and Design is 423.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $30,340 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89.8% higher at Laguna College of Art and Design than at California State University Los Angeles (about $17,740 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laguna College of Art and Design 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 23.9% larger than aid received by Laguna College of Art and Design students ($13,824 vs. $11,153).

Cal State LA vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State LA or Laguna College of Art and Design? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Laguna College of Art and Design and Cal State LA.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 15/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State LA - Test-free; Laguna College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027; Laguna College of Art and Design Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Laguna College of Art and Design students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Cal State LA (3.31).
• Laguna College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (94.3%) than Cal State LA (91.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Cal State LA vs. 23.1% at Laguna College of Art and Design.

Cal State LA vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State LA and Laguna College of Art and Design? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Laguna College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than California State University Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from California State University Los Angeles earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,900 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $13,779 lower median loan debt than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($12,920 vs. $26,699).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($133 vs. $276).
• More Laguna College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 57%)

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.