Design Institute of San Diego
San Diego, California · Private For-Profit · 100.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 28/100 · Poor Value
Design Institute of San Diego scores 28 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale. The numbers are stark: $33,700 median 6-year earnings, $46,920 at 10 years, a 26.5-year payback period, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.093 — graduates owe more than a full year's salary in student debt. Net price of $44,010 exceeds the $29,300 sticker tuition, which typically indicates fees and living costs are substantial. The Scorecard reports net price only for the 48001-75000 income bracket; all other income brackets return null, meaning income-stratified cost data is largely unavailable. The school is a for-profit institution in San Diego with 77 enrolled students. The completion rate of 80% is the clearest positive data point — most students who enroll finish. But finishing a degree here produces $33,700 median earnings at year six with $36,844 median debt and a $390 monthly payment. The 5-year repayment rate of 72.3% is below average; the 7-year rate drops to 68.3%, suggesting a meaningful share of graduates are struggling with loan repayment even years after graduation. The Scorecard does not report 1-year or 3-year repayment rates, and repayment rate is imputed.
The data raises concerns about Design Institute of San Diego
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score28/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.09 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period26.5 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Design Institute of San Diego
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $29,300/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,300/yr |
| Average net price | $44,010/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $176,040 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,920 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $36,844 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $391 |
| Estimated payback period | 26.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 80.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 77 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Design Institute of San Diego is $29,300/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $44,010/year, or roughly $176,040 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of N/A/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $36,844 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $391 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $46,920 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.09 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | N/A |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $44,010 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Net price data for the 0-30000 income bracket is not reported by the Scorecard. With a Pell grant rate of 51.1%, a significant portion of students are in this bracket. Without income-stratified cost data, low-income prospective students cannot accurately model their net cost from public data sources alone and should contact the institution's financial aid office directly before making enrollment decisions.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The only reported net price — $44,010 per year — applies to the 48001-75000 bracket. At $176,040 over four years against $33,700 median 6-year earnings and a 26.5-year payback period, this cost structure does not produce a defensible financial return for most students. The long-run earnings trajectory to $46,920 at 10 years does not substantially change the calculation.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price data for the $110,001+ bracket is not reported by the Scorecard. Given the for-profit pricing model and $44,010 net price for the middle-income band, higher-income families should expect similar or higher costs. At any price point near $44,000 per year, the financial case for this institution is very difficult to defend given the earnings and payback data.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Design Institute of San Diego with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | $34,589 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts is the only program reported, with 16 graduates earning $34,589 at year one. Year-four earnings are not reported by the Scorecard. Median debt of $45,687 against $34,589 year-one earnings yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.321 (F grade). Graduates owe more than 1.3 times their annual salary on graduation day. This is the worst debt-to-earnings figure in the program list for this institution, and it is the only program. There is no higher-earning program within DISD that compensates for this outcome.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 100.0% |
| Enrollment | 77 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 51.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,708 |
The Scorecard reports a 100% admission rate with no standardized test data. This is an open-enrollment institution. The admission decision is operationally straightforward; the financial decision is not. At $44,010 net price per year for a credential that produces $33,700 median 6-year earnings, prospective students should model their specific career plan and salary expectations against this cost before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Academy of Art University, University of Silicon Valley, DeVry College of New York, DeVry University New Jersey, and DeVry University Florida — a grouping of small for-profit institutions. This peer group broadly shares the pattern of high cost relative to earnings outcomes. Design Institute of San Diego's 80% completion rate is actually above average for this peer cluster, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.093 is the most unfavorable figure in the group based on available data.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Institute of San Diego (this school) | 28 | $44,010 | $46,920 |
| DeVry University-New Jersey | 32 | $26,565 | $45,987 |
| DeVry College of New York | 31 | $12,855 | $45,987 |
| University of Silicon Valley | 23 | $27,815 | $51,017 |
| DeVry University-Florida | 21 | $29,477 | $45,987 |
| Academy of Art University | 10 | $40,613 | $39,008 |
Who Thrives Here
Design Institute of San Diego enrolls 77 students, making it among the smallest institutions in this database. The admission rate is 100%, meaning essentially all applicants are admitted. SAT and ACT data are not reported. The Pell grant rate of 51.1% indicates over half of students receive Pell grants — a heavily low-income student population paying high costs. Students seeking a career in interior design in San Diego may value proximity and small-cohort instruction, but the financial data warrants serious scrutiny before enrollment.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Design Institute of San Diego. With a net cost of $44,010 per year and median graduate earnings of only $46,920 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 26.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Key strengths include a 80.0% graduation rate. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $36,844 against $46,920 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.