Laguna College of Art and Design vs. Menlo

Comparable Facts

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

Menlo College is larger than Laguna College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (810 students vs. 775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laguna College of Art and Design is located in Laguna Beach, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Menlo College is in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Laguna College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Laguna College of Art and Design 9:1; Menlo College 14:1.

Laguna College of Art and Design vs. Menlo Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laguna College of Art and Design or Menlo? 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 Menlo College than Laguna College of Art and Design ($32,563 vs. $47,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Menlo College are 6.7% lower than at Laguna College of Art and Design ($18,236 vs. $19,553).
• Menlo College is 43% more expensive for in-state tuition than Laguna College of Art and Design (about $16,130 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $37,500.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43% higher at Menlo than at Laguna College of Art and Design (about $16,130 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $37,500.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Laguna College of Art and Design as at Menlo College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 251.2% larger than aid received by Laguna College of Art and Design students ($39,174 vs. $11,153).

Laguna College of Art and Design vs. Menlo Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Laguna College of Art and Design - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Menlo - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: Laguna College of Art and Design Aug 15, 2027; Menlo Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Laguna College of Art and Design students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Menlo (3.3).
• Laguna College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (94.3%) than Menlo (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at Laguna College of Art and Design vs. 5.3% at Menlo.

Laguna College of Art and Design vs. Menlo Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laguna College of Art and Design and Menlo? 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 Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from Menlo College earn a median of about $13,800 more per year than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Menlo College graduates have a $5,637 lower median loan debt than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($21,062 vs. $26,699).
• Among borrowers, Menlo graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($217 vs. $276).
• More Laguna College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 55%)

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.