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Compare Art Center College of Design vs Saint Mary's College of California

Pasadena, CA · Moraga, CA

Art Center College of DesignSaint Mary's College of California
Cost
Price after aid (average)$48,661/yr$30,378/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$39,645/yr$19,462/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$31,000$23,691
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$42,161/yr$20,127/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$44,738/yr$23,303/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$45,677/yr$29,049/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$61,144/yr$40,581/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$329/mo$251/mo
Room & board (on campus)No data reported$17,600/yr
Room & board (off campus)$19,632/yr$22,086/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$4,000/yr$1,062/yr
Other living costs (on campus)No data reported$4,446/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$75,649/yr$77,659/yr
Tuition (in-state)$54,170/yr$57,803/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$54,170/yr$57,803/yr
Students with Pell Grants22%27%
Students taking federal loans33%42%
Getting in
Students who get accepted75%87%
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received1,3394,308
Students accepted1,0043,816
Students who enrolled322503
Accepted students who enroll32%13%
High-school GPAOptional (considered if sent)Required
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredNot considered
Recommendation lettersOptional (considered if sent)Required
Class rankNot consideredNot considered
College-prep programOptional (considered if sent)Required
Demonstrated competenciesRequiredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
English proficiency testRequiredRequired
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredNot consideredOptional (considered if sent)
SAT/ACT policyNot consideredNot considered
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate79%70%
Freshmen who come back86%85%
Typical earnings 10 years in$71,958/yr$78,812/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$28,421–$125,307$50,156–$121,277
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)78%77%
White students graduating64%70%
Black students graduating50%52%
Hispanic students graduating63%71%
Asian students graduating85%82%
Typical earnings 6 years in$53,562/yr$60,388/yr
Earn more than a HS grad69%80%
Graduate on time35%62%
Pell students who graduate74%68%
First-gen students who finish62%64%
Low-income students who finish67%59%
Students who transfer outNo data reported6.7%
Typical earnings 8 years in$58,753/yr$72,012/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsVisual & Performing Arts 50% · Communications Technologies 23% · Engineering Technologies 19%Business, Management & Marketing 26% · Social Sciences 11% · Psychology 8%
Most popular programVisual & Performing Arts — 50% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 26% of degrees
2nd most popular programCommunications Technologies — 23% of degreesSocial Sciences — 11% of degrees
3rd most popular programEngineering Technologies — 19% of degreesPsychology — 8% of degrees
4th most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 5% of degreesVisual & Performing Arts — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programArchitecture — 3% of degreesCommunication & Journalism — 8% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Graphic Communications — $67,010/yrBusiness Administration, Management and Operations — $129,891/yr
Degrees in STEM25%14%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment2,0171,947
Students per professor9 : 110 : 1
Graduate students270780
Average professor pay$9,383/mo$11,429/mo
Full-time professors19%61%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Median family income$30,283$72,847
SettingCity (midsize)Suburb (large)
LocationPasadena, CAMoraga, CA
RegionFar WestFar West
Founded19301863
Public or privatePrivate (nonprofit)Private (nonprofit)
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationMaster's Colleges & Universities: Small ProgramsMaster's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students44%2.4%
Men40%46%
Women60%54%
White students10%37%
Black students1.2%4.9%
Hispanic or Latino students9.3%33%
Asian students30%8.3%
Two or more races4.7%8.6%
Other / not reported0.7%5.3%
Special typeNoneReligiously affiliated
First-generation students24%26%
Part-time students11%5.1%
Students age 25+16%5.7%
Spent on teaching per student$26,617/yr$14,094/yr
Endowment$152.7M$178.9M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingNo — no campus housingYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housingNo data reported1,511
Required to live on campusNo data reportedNo
Meal plan offeredNoYes
Meals per weekNo data reportedVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterFour-one-four plan
Religious affiliationNo data reportedRoman Catholic
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchNoNo
ROTCNoYes — Army, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditYesYes
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoYes
Weekend & evening classesNoYes
Teacher certificationNoYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesNoYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingNoYes
Student veteran organizationNoNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data fromNo data reported2024-25
College sports levelNo intercollegiate athletics reportedNCAA Division I without football
Football teamNo data reportedNo
Varsity teamsNo data reported18
Student athletesNo data reported341
Athletic scholarshipsNo data reported$8.9M
Athletics budgetNo data reported$32.0M
Athletics revenueNo data reported$32.0M
Recruiting spendNo data reported$493,431

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.