Art Center College of Design vs American Conservatory Theater
Art Center College of Design and American Conservatory Theater, two esteemed institutions in Pasadena, California, offer distinct educational experiences for aspiring artists and performers. Art Center, renowned for its rigorous design programs, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 15%, while ACT, a prestigious theater conservatory, maintains a slightly higher acceptance rate of 20%. Both institutions attract a diverse student body, with Art Center's student population comprising 45% male and 55% female students, and ACT's student body consisting of 40% male and 60% female students. While Art Center's popular majors include Illustration, Graphic Design, and Entertainment Design, ACT specializes in Acting, Directing, and Stage Management. With graduation rates of 75% and 80% respectively, both institutions ensure that their students receive the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue successful careers in their chosen fields. To help you make an informed decision about your educational journey, we
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![]() American Conservatory Theater |
![]() Art Center College of Design |
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Overview |
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Location | San Francisco, California | Pasadena, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 85.0% | |
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No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | N/A | 75.6% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$90
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 982 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 742 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 269 | |
Yield rate | 36.3% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $51,676 | $72,066 |
Average net price | $50,420 | |
Tuition | $30,235 | $47,334 |
Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
64.0%
Average amount $17,667 |
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Students receiving federal student loan |
39.0%
Average amount $5,367 |
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Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $38,675 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
11
Men 45.5% Women 54.5% |
2,028
Men 41.7% Women 58.3% |
Graduate students |
13
Men 46.2% Women 53.8% |
291
Men 42.6% Women 57.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity | N/A |
Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | N/A | 45.4% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | N/A | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | N/A | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 100.0% | 75.9% |
Dropout rate | N/A | 9.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | 8.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
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Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Architectural Sciences and Technology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
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