Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) vs American Conservatory Theater
Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD) and American Conservatory Theater (ACT) are two esteemed institutions offering specialized education in the arts. CCAD, located in Columbus, Ohio, focuses on visual arts, while ACT, based in San Francisco, California, emphasizes theater and acting. With acceptance rates of 85% and 25%, respectively, CCAD is more accessible, while ACT is highly selective. CCAD's popular majors include Fine Arts, Graphic Design, and Illustration, while ACT's primary focus is on Acting. CCAD boasts a diverse student body, with 45% female and 55% male students, while ACT's student body is predominantly female at 70%. CCAD's graduation rate stands at 65%, while ACT's is slightly lower at 60%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key differences between these two prestigious institutions.
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![]() American Conservatory Theater |
![]() Columbus College of Art and Design |
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Overview |
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Location | San Francisco, California | Columbus, Ohio |
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 | 82.0% | |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | N/A | 94.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$90
|
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$65
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 730 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 689 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 189 | |
Yield rate | 27.4% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | 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 | $54,496 |
Average net price | $20,726 | |
Tuition | $30,235 | $36,500 |
Room & board | $11,490 | |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $24,540 |
|
Students receiving federal student loan |
68.0%
Average amount $5,502 |
|
Students taking out private loans |
11.0%
Average amount $16,807 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
11
Men 45.5% Women 54.5% |
976
Men 29.8% Women 70.2% |
Graduate students |
13
Men 46.2% Women 53.8% |
24
Men 33.3% Women 66.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity | N/A |
Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 29.7% |
International students | N/A | N/A |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | N/A | 438 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Ohio Pennsylvania Indiana Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | N/A | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 100.0% | 59.7% |
Dropout rate | N/A | 40.3% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
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Visual and Performing Arts, General (Master's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
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