Your chances of getting into California Institute of the Arts
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at CalArts is 24.8%. Its admission rate is the 13th lowest in California and the 92nd lowest the nation.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into CalArts and can you get accepted?
CalArts is a very highly competitive school to get into. You have a low chance of acceptance even if you meet the admission criteria. It's important that you meet their GPA requirements to get through the first round of consideration. Last year, only 525 out of the 2,120 who applied were admitted.
36% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Can you get into CalArts?
25% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.
Admission Requirements in Brief
To have the best chance of getting into to California Institute of the Arts you should:
CalArts GPA
GPA Requirements & Average GPA
California Institute of the Arts has not reported high school GPA data for its accepted students.
CalArts SAT Scores
Testing Requirements
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required by California Institute of the Arts. The school has a test blind policy.
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 25th Percentile | N/A |
| SAT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Average SAT Score | N/A |
CalArts ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 25th Percentile | N/A |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Average ACT Score | N/A |
Applying
Admission Statistics
Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 1,285 | 629 | 2,120 |
| Accepted | 324 | 153 | 525 |
| Acceptance Rate | 25% | 24% | 25% |
| Enrolled | 118 | 49 | 189 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 36% | 32% | 36% |
Fall 2025 Application Deadline
Applications Due
Days left to Apply
Applicants have 11 days left until the Fall 2025 term applications are due on Jan 5, 2025.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to California Institute of the Arts is $70.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to California Institute of the Arts and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) |
| High School GPA | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted |
| High School Class Rank | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted |
| Recommendations | Required to be considered for admission |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Required to be considered for admission |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to California Institute of the Arts often consider these colleges
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=111081 IPEDS survey data for California Institute of the Arts.
Last updated February 24, 2024