Design Institute of San Diego is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in San Diego, California. It enrolls 77 students (a very small, intimate 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 Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
56/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes62
Value7
Affordability34
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 100%, Design Institute of San Diego is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
100%
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 Design Institute of San Diego is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Design Institute of San Diego 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 $44,010 per year. That's above the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$44,010
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
51%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
63%
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
$29,300
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,930
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,911
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
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.
$6,52725%percentile
$36,844Medianpercentile
$38,06075%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 $26,276
↓ $10,568
No Pell $22,950
↓ $13,894
Dependent students $20,500
↓ $16,344
Independent students $27,302
↓ $9,542
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $13,215, less than completers ($36,844), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
57% of full-time students who enrolled at Design Institute of San Diego graduate within six years, and 54% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
57%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
54%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Design Institute of San Diego earn a median of $46,920 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,920
Earning > $25K
68%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$1.1 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Design Institute of San Diego is home to 77 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
77
Part-Time
23%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 45.5%35
Hispanic 18.2%14
Asian 7.8%6
Black 6.5%5
International 3.9%3
Other 2.6%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Design Institute of San Diego. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CitySan Diego, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
50%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Design Institute of San Diego offers
a focused set of programs:
1 distinct programs across
1 major.
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 Design Institute of San Diego is 7:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
7:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,939
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Pros & Cons of Design Institute of San Diego
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Design Institute of San Diego 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
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
First-year retention is below typical
Higher than typical student debt at graduation
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, Design Institute of San Diego 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 Design Institute of San Diego
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Design Institute of San Diego.
Is Design Institute of San Diego hard to get into?
Design Institute of San Diego has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 100%.
What is the acceptance rate at Design Institute of San Diego?
Design Institute of San Diego has an acceptance rate of 100%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Design Institute of San Diego cost?
The average net price after aid at Design Institute of San Diego is $44,010 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Design Institute of San Diego worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,920 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $44,010 per year. That's roughly 1.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Design Institute of San Diego known for?
Design Institute of San Diego is best known for its programs in Design. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Design Institute of San Diego graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Design Institute of San Diego are $46,920, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Design Institute of San Diego accredited?
Yes. Design Institute of San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Design Institute of San Diego?
Design Institute of San Diego enrolls 77 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Design Institute of San Diego?
Design Institute of San Diego graduates 57% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Design Institute of San Diego a public or private college?
Design Institute of San Diego is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Design Institute of San Diego located?
Design Institute of San Diego is located in San Diego, California.
What programs does Design Institute of San Diego offer?
Design Institute of San Diego offers 1 distinct programs. The most popular include Design.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Design Institute of San Diego?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Design Institute of San Diego is 7:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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