PSC vs. California College of the Arts

Comparable Facts

Compare Philander Smith University in Little Rock, AR with California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California College of the Arts is larger than PSC based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 780 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Philander Smith University is located in Little Rock, AR (Midsize City setting); California College of the Arts is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• Philander Smith University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Philander Smith University 11:1; California College of the Arts 8:1.

PSC vs. California College of the Arts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PSC or California College of the Arts? 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 Philander Smith University than California College of the Arts ($14,082 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Philander Smith University are 54.7% lower than at California College of the Arts ($10,000 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 362.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than PSC (about $47,212 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $13,014.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 362.8% higher at California College of the Arts than at Philander Smith University (about $47,212 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $13,014.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Philander Smith University than at California College of the Arts (99% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 130.7% larger than aid received by Philander Smith University students ($32,953 vs. $14,283).

PSC vs. California College of the Arts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PSC or California College of the Arts? 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 California College of the Arts and PSC.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PSC - Not reported; California College of the Arts - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman California College of the Arts students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at PSC (3.04).

PSC vs. California College of the Arts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PSC and California College of the Arts? 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).

• California College of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Philander Smith University's (31%).
• Graduates from California College of the Arts earn a median of about $16,700 more per year than PSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $26,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California College of the Arts graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than PSC graduates ($28,000 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, California College of the Arts graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PSC graduates ($289 vs. $320).
• More California College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PSC students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 35%)

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.