California State University-Northridge vs. Design Institute of San Diego

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Northridge in Northridge, 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 Northridge is larger than Design Institute of San Diego based on total student enrollment (38,313 students vs. 94 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Northridge is located in Northridge, CA (Large City setting); Design Institute of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Northridge 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 Northridge 25:1; Design Institute of San Diego 8:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Northridge are 37.5% lower than at Design Institute of San Diego ($13,804 vs. $22,086).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.1% higher at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Northridge (about $9,242 more per year; $29,300 vs. $20,058).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Northridge (100% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Northridge students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Design Institute of San Diego students ($12,825 vs. $11,901).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at California State University-Northridge, open admission at Design Institute of San Diego.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Northridge Nov 30, 2026.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at California State University-Northridge vs. 28.6% at Design Institute of San Diego.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Northridge graduates have a $26,389 lower median loan debt than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($14,196 vs. $40,585).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Northridge graduates have an estimated $273 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($146 vs. $419).
• More Design Institute of San Diego graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-Northridge students, three years after graduation (68% vs. 59%).

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