San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) vs Otis College
San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) and Otis College of Art and Design (Otis) stand out as two prominent art and design institutions on the West Coast, each offering unique educational experiences. While both schools share a commitment to artistic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. SFAI boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process, while Otis has a higher acceptance rate, making it more accessible to a broader range of students. In terms of popular majors, SFAI emphasizes fine arts, while Otis offers a wider variety of programs, including digital media, product design, and architecture. Additionally, the student body demographics vary, with SFAI having a slightly higher percentage of female students and Otis having a more diverse student population. As for graduation rates, SFAI has a slightly higher rate, suggesting a strong commitment to student success. To help you make an informed decision about your art education, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences
|
![]() Otis College of Art and Design |
![]() San Francisco Art Institute |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Los Angeles, California | San Francisco, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | 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 | 78.0% | |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 79.8% | 94.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$85
|
SAT range | 1130 - 1360 | N/A |
ACT range | 20 - 29 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 13.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 3.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,284 | 169 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,823 | 160 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 263 | |
Yield rate | 14.4% | |
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 |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $70,802 | |
Average net price | $45,402 | |
Tuition | $47,700 | |
Room & board | $15,744 | |
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $21,593 |
|
Students receiving federal student loan |
48.0%
Average amount $5,811 |
|
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $26,799 |
|
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
1,197
Men 30.5% Women 69.5% |
42
Men 50.0% Women 50.0% |
Graduate students |
55
Men 18.2% Women 81.8% |
28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 30.2% | N/A |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 403 | N/A |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | N/A |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 4:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | N/A |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 68.6% | 31.8% |
Dropout rate | 31.4% | 68.2% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
|
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)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.







































































