Design Institute of San Diego vs. Laguna College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Design Institute of San Diego in San Diego, 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.

Laguna College of Art and Design is larger than Design Institute of San Diego based on total student enrollment (775 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); Laguna College of Art and Design is in Laguna Beach, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Design Institute of San Diego is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. Laguna College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Design Institute of San Diego 8:1; Laguna College of Art and Design 9:1.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Design Institute of San Diego 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 Design Institute of San Diego than Laguna College of Art and Design ($44,010 vs. $47,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laguna College of Art and Design are 11.5% lower than at Design Institute of San Diego ($19,553 vs. $22,086).
• Laguna College of Art and Design is 28% more expensive for in-state tuition than Design Institute of San Diego (about $8,200 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $29,300.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28% higher at Laguna College of Art and Design than at Design Institute of San Diego (about $8,200 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $29,300.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Design Institute of San Diego as at Laguna College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Design Institute of San Diego students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Laguna College of Art and Design students ($11,901 vs. $11,153).

Design Institute of San Diego vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

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

• Design Institute of San Diego reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Design Institute of San Diego - Open admission; Laguna College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Laguna College of Art and Design Aug 15, 2027.
• Design Institute of San Diego has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Laguna College of Art and Design (94.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.6% at Design Institute of San Diego vs. 23.1% at Laguna College of Art and Design.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Design Institute of San Diego and Laguna College of Art and Design? 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 Laguna College of Art and Design's (56%).
• Graduates from Laguna College of Art and Design earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Design Institute of San Diego graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,100 vs. $38,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Laguna College of Art and Design graduates have a $13,886 lower median loan debt than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($26,699 vs. $40,585).
• Among borrowers, Laguna College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $143 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($276 vs. $419).
• More Design Institute of San Diego graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laguna College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 61%)

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.