Design Institute of San Diego vs. Plaza College

Comparable Facts

Compare Design Institute of San Diego in San Diego, CA with Plaza College in Forest Hills, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Plaza College is larger than Design Institute of San Diego based on total student enrollment (1,002 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); Plaza College is in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting).
• Design Institute of San Diego is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Design Institute of San Diego 8:1; Plaza College 28:1.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. Plaza College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Design Institute of San Diego or Plaza College? 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 Plaza College than Design Institute of San Diego ($19,860 vs. $44,010).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Plaza College are 29.8% lower than at Design Institute of San Diego ($15,500 vs. $22,086).
• Design Institute of San Diego is 89.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Plaza College (about $13,850 more per year; $29,300.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89.6% higher at Design Institute of San Diego than at Plaza College (about $13,850 more per year; $29,300.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Design Institute of San Diego than at Plaza College (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Design Institute of San Diego students is 78.6% larger than aid received by Plaza College students ($11,901 vs. $6,665).

Design Institute of San Diego vs. Plaza College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Design Institute of San Diego or Plaza College? 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 Plaza College 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; Plaza College - Test-free.
• Design Institute of San Diego has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.6% at Design Institute of San Diego vs. 54.9% at Plaza College.

Design Institute of San Diego vs. Plaza College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Design Institute of San Diego and Plaza College? 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 is 62%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Plaza College.
• Graduates from Design Institute of San Diego earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than Plaza College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,900 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Plaza College graduates have a $26,670 lower median loan debt than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($13,915 vs. $40,585).
• Among borrowers, Plaza College graduates have an estimated $276 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Design Institute of San Diego graduates ($143 vs. $419).
• More Design Institute of San Diego graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plaza College students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 30%)

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.