Design Institute of San Diego vs. CSUMB

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Monterey Bay is larger than Design Institute of San Diego based on total student enrollment (7,713 students vs. 94 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Design Institute of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Design Institute of San Diego is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. California State University Monterey Bay is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Design Institute of San Diego 8:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Design Institute of San Diego or CSUMB? 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 Monterey Bay than Design Institute of San Diego ($14,493 vs. $44,010).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Monterey Bay are 22% lower than at Design Institute of San Diego ($17,234 vs. $22,086).
• Design Institute of San Diego is 276.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $21,521 more per year; $29,300.00 vs. $7,779.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.8% higher at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $8,921 more per year; $29,300.00 vs. $20,379.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Design Institute of San Diego than at California State University Monterey Bay (100% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Design Institute of San Diego students ($12,185 vs. $11,901).

Design Institute of San Diego vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

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

• Design Institute of San Diego reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Design Institute of San Diego - Open admission; CSUMB - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.
• Design Institute of San Diego has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than CSUMB (97.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.6% at Design Institute of San Diego vs. 9.8% at CSUMB.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Design Institute of San Diego and CSUMB? 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 Monterey Bay's (38%).
• Graduates from California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Design Institute of San Diego graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,300 vs. $38,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Monterey Bay graduates have a $26,585 lower median loan debt than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($14,000 vs. $40,585).
• Among borrowers, CSUMB graduates have an estimated $275 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($144 vs. $419).
• More Design Institute of San Diego graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSUMB students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 66%)

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.