Laguna College of Art and Design (LCA&D) vs American Conservatory Theater
Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) and American Conservatory Theater (ACT) are two esteemed institutions offering specialized education in the arts. LCAD, located in Laguna Beach, California, focuses on visual arts, while ACT, based in San Francisco, California, emphasizes theater and acting. With acceptance rates of 75% and 25%, respectively, LCAD is more accessible, while ACT is highly selective. LCAD's popular majors include Drawing and Painting, Illustration, and Graphic Design, while ACT's primary focus is on Acting. The student body demographics differ, with LCAD having a larger female population (65%) and ACT having a more balanced gender ratio (52% female, 48% male). ACT boasts a higher graduation rate (85%) compared to LCAD's 65%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key aspects of each institution. Explore the table to find
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![]() American Conservatory Theater |
![]() Laguna College of Art and Design |
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Overview |
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Location | San Francisco, California | Laguna Beach, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | Rural: Fringe |
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% | |
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | N/A | 83.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$90
|
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 581 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 484 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 123 | |
Yield rate | 25.4% | |
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 | $58,264 |
Average net price | $40,669 | |
Tuition | $30,235 | $33,600 |
Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $12,284 |
|
Students receiving federal student loan |
72.0%
Average amount $7,045 |
|
Students taking out private loans |
5.0%
Average amount $27,732 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
11
Men 45.5% Women 54.5% |
735
Men 26.4% Women 73.6% |
Graduate students |
13
Men 46.2% Women 53.8% |
31
Men 41.9% Women 58.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity | N/A |
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | N/A | 5.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Rural: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | N/A | 56 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | No |
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 | 6:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | N/A | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 100.0% | 70.4% |
Dropout rate | N/A | 29.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
|
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
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