UCSC vs. Otis College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA with Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Otis College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 1,267 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); Otis College of Art and Design is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Otis College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; Otis College of Art and Design 9:1.

UCSC vs. Otis College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC or Otis 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 University of California Santa Cruz than Otis College of Art and Design ($18,059 vs. $54,295).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 4% lower than at Otis College of Art and Design ($19,948 vs. $20,784).
• Otis College of Art and Design is 252.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $40,483 more per year; $56,488.00 vs. $16,005.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.5% higher at Otis College of Art and Design than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $6,283 more per year; $56,488.00 vs. $50,205.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Otis College of Art and Design than at University of California Santa Cruz (99% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 4.5% larger than aid received by Otis College of Art and Design students ($22,774 vs. $21,803).

UCSC vs. Otis College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC or Otis College of Art and Design? 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 Otis College of Art and Design and UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Otis College of Art and Design (1330) is 70 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Otis College of Art and Design 1265/1395.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Otis College of Art and Design - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Otis College of Art and Design (3.31).
• Otis College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 10.5% at Otis College of Art and Design.

UCSC vs. Otis College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC and Otis College of Art and Design? 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).

• University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Otis College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from Otis College of Art and Design earn a median of about $700 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $7,041 lower median loan debt than Otis College of Art and Design graduates ($19,959 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Otis College of Art and Design graduates ($206 vs. $279).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Otis College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 67%)

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.