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PrivateRural

Laguna College of Art and Design

LCAD

Laguna Beach, California 92651

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPrivateClose Faculty Access

Close-knit campus

Laguna College of Art and Design is a private rural institution in Laguna Beach, California. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 776 undergraduates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. The rural location provides a peaceful, focused academic environment.

63% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $47,867 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $42,354.

Established
1961
Motto
Empowering Creative Leaders
Type
Private

Plan Your Visit

78%Acceptance
—SAT Avg
776Students
9:1Student:Faculty
63%Grad Rate
$47,867Earnings 10yr
$42,354Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Laguna College of Art and Design Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate77.6%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

77.6%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$35,650
Room & Board$18,071
Books & Supplies$2,324
Total Cost of Attendance$56,183
Average Net Price$42,354
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$36,856
$30–48K$39,821
$48–75K$39,513
$75–110K$44,804
$110K+$45,712

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

53.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$18,875

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

5

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (10)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

83%

Mixed
  • •83% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
776
Gender Split
75% / 25%
Women / Men
First Generation
22%
Pell Grant Recipients
31%

Race & Ethnicity

White 44%
Black 2%
Hispanic 23%
Asian 18%
Two+ 8%
Int'l 4%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate63.0%
Freshman Retention83.5%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$31,987
10 Years$47,867

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

LAX Los Angeles45 mi
SAN San Diego66 mi
LAS Las Vegas229 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2582 mi · ~74h 35m drive
New York, NY2435 mi · ~70h 21m drive
Hartford, CT2501 mi · ~72h 15m drive
Providence, RI2566 mi · ~74h 8m drive
Albany, NY2445 mi · ~70h 38m drive
Syracuse, NY2324 mi · ~67h 8m drive
Rochester, NY2251 mi · ~65h 2m drive
Buffalo, NY2186 mi · ~63h 9m drive
Philadelphia, PA2377 mi · ~68h 40m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2121 mi · ~61h 16m drive
Harrisburg, PA2285 mi · ~66h 1m drive
Newark, NJ2426 mi · ~70h 5m drive
Washington, DC2281 mi · ~65h 54m drive
Baltimore, MD2302 mi · ~66h 30m drive
Atlanta, GA1912 mi · ~55h 14m drive
Charlotte, NC2097 mi · ~60h 35m drive
Raleigh, NC2214 mi · ~63h 58m drive
Miami, FL2306 mi · ~66h 37m drive
Orlando, FL2171 mi · ~62h 43m drive
Tampa, FL2122 mi · ~61h 18m drive
Nashville, TN1759 mi · ~50h 49m drive
New Orleans, LA1641 mi · ~47h 24m drive
Richmond, VA2267 mi · ~65h 29m drive
Chicago, IL1734 mi · ~50h 6m drive
Detroit, MI1971 mi · ~56h 56m drive
Minneapolis, MN1521 mi · ~43h 56m drive
St. Louis, MO1572 mi · ~45h 25m drive
Kansas City, MO1342 mi · ~38h 46m drive
Indianapolis, IN1794 mi · ~51h 50m drive
Columbus, OH1962 mi · ~56h 41m drive
Cleveland, OH2035 mi · ~58h 47m drive
Milwaukee, WI1735 mi · ~50h 7m drive
Dallas, TX1212 mi · ~35h 1m drive
Houston, TX1341 mi · ~38h 44m drive
Austin, TX1195 mi · ~34h 31m drive
San Antonio, TX1169 mi · ~33h 46m drive
Los Angeles, CA43 mi · ~1h 15m drive
San Francisco, CA391 mi · ~11h 18m drive
San Diego, CA68 mi · ~1h 58m drive
Seattle, WA999 mi · ~28h 52m drive
Portland, OR866 mi · ~25h 1m drive
Denver, CO826 mi · ~23h 52m drive
Phoenix, AZ328 mi · ~9h 29m drive
Salt Lake City, UT593 mi · ~17h 8m drive
Honolulu, HI2581 mi · ~74h 34m drive
Southern (mild winters, hot summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Los Angeles (LAX)45 miles
Rental car
68 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
90 min$54-90
San Diego (SAN)66 miles
Rental car
99 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
132 min$79-132

Deadline Calendar

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Laguna College of Art and Design Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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