California College of the Arts vs. La Sierra University

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with La Sierra University in Riverside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

La Sierra University is larger than California College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (1,574 students vs. 1,308 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); La Sierra University is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. La Sierra University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; La Sierra University 12:1.

California College of the Arts vs. La Sierra University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or La Sierra University? 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 La Sierra University than California College of the Arts ($23,848 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at La Sierra University are 39.2% lower than at California College of the Arts ($13,431 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 59.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than La Sierra University (about $22,516 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $37,710.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 59.7% higher at California College of the Arts than at La Sierra University (about $22,516 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $37,710.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at La Sierra University than at California College of the Arts (98% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 19.2% larger than aid received by La Sierra University students ($32,953 vs. $27,646).

California College of the Arts vs. La Sierra University Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsLa Sierra University 880/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsLa Sierra University 18/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; La Sierra University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman La Sierra University students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at California College of the Arts (3.34).
• La Sierra University has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than California College of the Arts (91.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 13.3% at La Sierra University.

California College of the Arts vs. La Sierra University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and La Sierra University? 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 La Sierra University's (32%).
• Graduates from La Sierra University earn a median of about $8,400 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,900 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California College of the Arts graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than La Sierra University graduates ($28,000 vs. $30,000).
• Among borrowers, California College of the Arts graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than La Sierra University graduates ($289 vs. $310).
• More California College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former La Sierra University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 52%)

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.