Design Institute of San Diego
San Diego, CA 92121
About Design Institute of San Diego
Design Institute of San Diego is a private for-profit university in San Diego, California, enrolling about 77 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 100.00% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $46,920 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Design Institute of San Diego charges about 1.8× the national private for-profit median tuition ($29,300).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 3.6×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 80.00%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $46,920.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Institute of San Diego | $29,300 | $44,010 | 1 |
| Private For-profit (national median) | $16,637 | — | 477 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Design Institute of San Diego really?
Key findings
- Design Institute of San Diego charges about 1.8× the national private for-profit median tuition ($29,300).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 3.6×.
Design Institute of San Diego tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $29,300
Finding Design Institute of San Diego charges about 1.8× the national private for-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $29,300. That is about 1.8× the national private for-profit median ($16,637). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 3.6×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 2.5×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private for-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Design Institute of San Diego versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Design Institute of San Diego versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Design Institute of San Diego is $44,010.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $44,010 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $35,667 above the California median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $23,957 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Design Institute of San Diego, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Design Institute of San Diego: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Design Institute of San Diego—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$29,300
Avg. net price
$44,010
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $48,001–$75,000 | $44,010 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $117,200. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Design Institute of San Diego is known for
Top program completions
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 29% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Design Institute of San Diego a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Design Institute of San Diego is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Design Institute of San Diego.
Campus
Location
San Diego, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 92121
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is about 2.2× the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private For-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting)
Size
Enrollment
77
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 93
- Graduate
- 17
- Full-time share
- 77%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$36,844
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 51.09%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Design Institute of San Diego.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Design Institute of San Diego was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Design Institute of San Diego in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $20,470 | $20,470 | $23,265 |
| 2014 | $17,547 | $17,547 | $19,764 |
| 2015 | $20,410 | $20,410 | $27,903 |
| 2016 | $20,410 | $20,410 | $26,430 |
| 2017 | $22,510 | $22,510 | $31,825 |
| 2018 | $23,860 | $23,860 | $39,971 |
| 2019 | $25,649 | $25,649 | $28,530 |
| 2020 | $25,649 | $25,649 | $40,842 |
| 2021 | $25,613 | $25,613 | $34,713 |
| 2022 | $27,875 | $27,875 | $34,992 |
| 2023 | $29,350 | $29,350 | $31,293 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Design Institute of San Diego reported total enrollment of about 77 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 5% male and 95% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (45.5%), Hispanic or Latino (18.2%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (15.6%). About 51.09% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
76.6% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Design Institute of San Diego in 2024 is 77 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 93 students. Graduate enrollment is about 17 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
0.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
0.00% 100% Completion Time
80.00% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Design Institute of San Diego completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Interior Design: 3% male / 97% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Design Institute of San Diego graduates earn a median of $46,920 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Design Institute of San Diego.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $46,920. Median federal loan debt: $36,844. Average net price used in cost models: $44,010.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Design Institute of San Diego graduates report median earnings of $46,920 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Design Institute of San Diego.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 1 programs by IPEDS completions (2 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Design Institute of San Diego.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Design Institute of San Diego graduates.
Institutional resources
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Design Institute of San Diego—instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Instructional Resources
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,708
- California median 0.76× the median ($10,166)
- Far West median 0.80× the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $7,677
- California median 1.2× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 1.1× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
Design Institute of San Diego at a glance
Design Institute of San Diego
Design Institute of San Diego is a private for-profit institution in San Diego, CA, classified as Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting).
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Interior Design
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian45.5%Hispanic or Latino18.2%Race/ethnicity unknown15.6%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Design Institute of San Diego
Other campuses in San Diego, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Design Institute of San Diego located?
Design Institute of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA.
What is Design Institute of San Diego's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Design Institute of San Diego is 100.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 8 applicants and 7 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Design Institute of San Diego's tuition?
Design Institute of San Diego tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $29,300 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $44,010 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Design Institute of San Diego cost?
Reported tuition is $29,300 and average net price is $44,010 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $22,086 annually.
What explains Design Institute of San Diego's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($44,010), completion (80.0% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($46,920). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Design Institute of San Diego?
Design Institute of San Diego reports undergraduate enrollment of about 93 students, White (45.5%), Hispanic or Latino (18.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of Design Institute of San Diego earn?
Median earnings are $46,916 six years after entry and $46,920 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Design Institute of San Diego?
The 150%-time completion rate is 80.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Design Institute of San Diego students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $36,844.
Is Design Institute of San Diego public or private?
Design Institute of San Diego is a private for-profit institution located in San Diego, CA.
Is Design Institute of San Diego an HBCU?
No. Design Institute of San Diego is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Design Institute of San Diego a tribal college?
No. Design Institute of San Diego is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.