FIDM LA vs. CSUMB

Deciding between FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and California State University Monterey Bay? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California State University Monterey Bay

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • FIDM LA Los Angeles, CA
  • CSUMB Seaside, CA
  • Setting
  • FIDM LA Large City
  • CSUMB Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • FIDM LA 564
  • CSUMB 7,713
  • Type
  • FIDM LA Private 4 Year
  • CSUMB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB #867
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FIDM LA -
  • CSUMB -
  • Status
  • FIDM LA For-profit
  • CSUMB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FIDM LA $35,000
  • CSUMB $7,779
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FIDM LA $35,000
  • CSUMB $20,379
  • Room & Board
  • FIDM LA $22,086
  • CSUMB $17,234
  • Average Net Price
  • FIDM LA $39,494
  • CSUMB $14,493
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FIDM LA $13,834
  • CSUMB $12,185
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FIDM LA 78%
  • CSUMB 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FIDM LA -
  • CSUMB 14,933
  • Admitted
  • FIDM LA -
  • CSUMB 14,545
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB 97.4%
  • Enrolled
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB 9.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB 1060
  • Typical ACT score
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • FIDM LA -
  • CSUMB 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FIDM LA -
  • CSUMB B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • FIDM LA Unavailable
  • CSUMB Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB
  • ACT Range
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB 17/23
  • SAT Range
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB 960/1160
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FIDM LA Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • CSUMB Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Application Deadline
  • FIDM LA
  • CSUMB Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FIDM LA 135:1
  • CSUMB 24:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FIDM LA
    • Visual and Performing Arts (54%)
    • Business (39%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • CSUMB
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FIDM LA 100%
  • CSUMB 38%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FIDM LA $41,600
  • CSUMB $45,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FIDM LA 61%
  • CSUMB 66%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FIDM LA $13,000
  • CSUMB $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FIDM LA $134
  • CSUMB $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FIDM LA 13%
  • CSUMB 27%
  • % Women
  • FIDM LA 87%
  • CSUMB 73%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FIDM LA Very High
  • CSUMB High
  • HBCU
  • FIDM LA No
  • CSUMB No
  • % White
  • FIDM LA 33%
  • CSUMB 31%
  • % Asian
  • FIDM LA 11%
  • CSUMB 5%
  • % Black
  • FIDM LA 5%
  • CSUMB 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • FIDM LA 22%
  • CSUMB 43%
  • % Native American
  • FIDM LA 1%
  • CSUMB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FIDM LA 1%
  • CSUMB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FIDM LA 3%
  • CSUMB 7%
  • % International
  • FIDM LA 17%
  • CSUMB 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FIDM LA 6%
  • CSUMB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FIDM LA 66%
  • CSUMB 96%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FIDM LA 26%
  • CSUMB 4%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • FIDM LA No
  • CSUMB Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • FIDM LA No
  • CSUMB No
  • Meal Plan
  • FIDM LA No
  • CSUMB Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • FIDM LA Yes
  • CSUMB No
  • Daycare Facility
  • FIDM LA No
  • CSUMB Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, 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 FIDM LA based on total student enrollment (7,713 students vs. 564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); California State University Monterey Bay is in Seaside, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising 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: FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising 135:1; California State University Monterey Bay 24:1.

FIDM LA vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FIDM LA 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 FIDM LA ($14,493 vs. $39,494).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Monterey Bay are 22% lower than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising ($17,234 vs. $22,086).
  • FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is 349.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSUMB (about $27,221 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $7,779.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 71.7% higher at FIDM LA than at California State University Monterey Bay (about $14,621 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $20,379.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising than at California State University Monterey Bay (78% vs. 71%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising students is 13.5% larger than aid received by California State University Monterey Bay students ($13,834 vs. $12,185).

FIDM LA vs. CSUMB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FIDM LA or CSUMB? 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 CSUMB and FIDM LA.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 960/1160.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State University Monterey Bay 17/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FIDM LA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); CSUMB - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
  • Typical fall application deadline: CSUMB Jan 15, 2027.

FIDM LA vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FIDM LA and CSUMB? 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).

  • FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than California State University Monterey Bay's (38%).
  • Graduates from California State University Monterey Bay earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than FIDM LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,300 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than CSUMB graduates ($13,000 vs. $14,000).
  • Among borrowers, FIDM LA graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CSUMB graduates ($134 vs. $144).
  • More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FIDM LA students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.