Laguna College of Art and Design vs. USD

Comparable Facts

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

University of San Diego is larger than Laguna College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (9,714 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); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Laguna College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Laguna College of Art and Design 9:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

Laguna College of Art and Design vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laguna College of Art and Design or USD? 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 San Diego than Laguna College of Art and Design ($37,918 vs. $47,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laguna College of Art and Design are 1.8% lower than at University of San Diego ($19,553 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 58.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Laguna College of Art and Design (about $21,986 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $37,500.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.6% higher at USD than at Laguna College of Art and Design (about $21,986 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $37,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laguna College of Art and Design than at University of San Diego (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 267.3% larger than aid received by Laguna College of Art and Design students ($40,965 vs. $11,153).

Laguna College of Art and Design vs. USD Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Laguna College of Art and Design or USD? 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 USD 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); USD - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: Laguna College of Art and Design Aug 15, 2027; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Laguna College of Art and Design (3.69).
• Laguna College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (94.3%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at Laguna College of Art and Design vs. 12.4% at USD.

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

How do outcomes compare for Laguna College of Art and Design and USD? 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than Laguna College of Art and Design's (56%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $30,100 more per year than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $40,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $3,795 lower median loan debt than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($22,904 vs. $26,699).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($236 vs. $276).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laguna College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.