Art Center College of Design vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)
Art Center College of Design and San Francisco Art Institute, two esteemed institutions renowned for their contributions to the art and design world, offer distinct educational experiences. Art Center, located in Pasadena, California, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 17%, while San Francisco Art Institute, nestled in the heart of San Francisco, maintains a slightly higher acceptance rate of 22%. Both institutions attract a diverse student body, with Art Center's student population comprising 44% male and 56% female students, and San Francisco Art Institute's student body consisting of 40% male and 60% female students. While Art Center's student body is predominantly White (54%), San Francisco Art Institute's student body is more diverse, with 39% White, 29% Asian, 15% Hispanic/Latino, and 11% Black students. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these
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![]() Art Center College of Design |
![]() San Francisco Art Institute |
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Overview |
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Location | Pasadena, California | San Francisco, California |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
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 | 75.6% | 94.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$85
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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 | 169 |
Total number of admissions given out | 742 | 160 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 269 | |
Yield rate | 36.3% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | |
High school GPA | Not required | N/A |
Recommendation letters | Not required | N/A |
High school transcript | Not required | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $72,066 | |
Average net price | $50,420 | |
Tuition | $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 |
2,028
Men 41.7% Women 58.3% |
42
Men 50.0% Women 50.0% |
Graduate students |
291
Men 42.6% Women 57.4% |
28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 45.4% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
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 | 8:1 | 4:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | N/A |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 75.9% | 31.8% |
Dropout rate | 9.8% | 68.2% |
Transferred out | 8.6% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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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Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
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