California College of the Arts vs. Laguna College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California College of the Arts is larger than Laguna College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Laguna College of Art and Design is in Laguna Beach, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Laguna College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Laguna College of Art and Design 9:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or Laguna 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 California College of the Arts than Laguna College of Art and Design ($46,823 vs. $47,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laguna College of Art and Design are 11.5% lower than at California College of the Arts ($19,553 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 60.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Laguna College of Art and Design (about $22,726 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $37,500.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 60.6% higher at California College of the Arts than at Laguna College of Art and Design (about $22,726 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $37,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laguna College of Art and Design than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 195.5% larger than aid received by Laguna College of Art and Design students ($32,953 vs. $11,153).

California College of the Arts vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or Laguna 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 Laguna College of Art and Design and California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Laguna College of Art and Design - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: Laguna College of Art and Design Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Laguna College of Art and Design students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at California College of the Arts (3.34).
• Laguna College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (94.3%) 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. 23.1% at Laguna College of Art and Design.

California College of the Arts vs. Laguna College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Laguna College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from California College of the Arts earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Laguna College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,301 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($26,699 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Laguna College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($276 vs. $289).
• More California College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laguna College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.