Laguna College of Art and Design is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Laguna Beach, California. It enrolls 746 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
48/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes56
Value2
Affordability22
Selectivity11
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 94.3%, Laguna College of Art and Design is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
94.3%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Laguna College of Art and Design is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Laguna College of Art and Design isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $42,505 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$42,505
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
43%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$37,500
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,553
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$2,324
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,446
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,989
Application fee: $45 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$37,203
$30,001 – $48,000
$38,156
$48,001 – $75,000
$40,258
$75,001 – $110,000
$44,233
Over $110,000
$46,889
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$9,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$29,37575%percentile
$38,72490%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,500
↓ $6,500
No Pell $12,000
↓ $15,000
Dependent students $17,500
↓ $9,500
Independent students $28,430
↑ $1,430
Female students $18,500
↓ $8,500
Male students $19,500
↓ $7,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at Laguna College of Art and Design graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
84%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Laguna College of Art and Design earn a median of $47,867 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,867
Earning > $25K
65%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
24.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 85% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Laguna College of Art and Design is home to 746 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
746
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
22%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 39.8%297
Hispanic 24.0%179
Asian 18.6%139
Other 9.8%73
International 5.0%37
Black 1.7%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Laguna College of Art and Design. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeLaguna Beach, California
Housing
Limited on-campus housing56 beds
Adult Learners
18%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Laguna College of Art and Design offers
a focused set of programs:
6 distinct programs across
2 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Laguna College of Art and Design is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$29M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$69,061
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
24 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
7
29%
$78,891
Associate Professors
11
46%
$69,050
Assistant Professors
6
25%
$57,613
Pros & Cons of Laguna College of Art and Design
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Laguna College of Art and Design tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, Laguna College of Art and Design is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Laguna College of Art and Design
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Laguna College of Art and Design.
Is Laguna College of Art and Design hard to get into?
Laguna College of Art and Design has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 94.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Laguna College of Art and Design?
Laguna College of Art and Design has an acceptance rate of 94.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Laguna College of Art and Design cost?
The average net price after aid at Laguna College of Art and Design is $42,505 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Laguna College of Art and Design worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,867 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $42,505 per year. That's roughly 1.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Laguna College of Art and Design known for?
Laguna College of Art and Design is best known for its programs in Design, Graphic Communications, Fine Arts. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Laguna College of Art and Design graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Laguna College of Art and Design are $47,867, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Laguna College of Art and Design accredited?
Yes. Laguna College of Art and Design is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Laguna College of Art and Design?
Laguna College of Art and Design enrolls 746 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Laguna College of Art and Design?
Laguna College of Art and Design graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Laguna College of Art and Design a public or private college?
Laguna College of Art and Design is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Laguna College of Art and Design located?
Laguna College of Art and Design is located in Laguna Beach, California.
What programs does Laguna College of Art and Design offer?
Laguna College of Art and Design offers 6 distinct programs. The most popular include Design, Graphic Communications, Fine Arts.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Laguna College of Art and Design?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Laguna College of Art and Design is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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