California College of the Arts vs. Allen College

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Allen College in Waterloo, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California College of the Arts is larger than Allen College based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 483 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Allen College is in Waterloo, IA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Allen College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Allen College 8:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Allen College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or Allen College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allen College are 60.2% lower than at California College of the Arts ($8,800 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 208.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Allen College (about $40,710 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $19,516.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 208.6% higher at California College of the Arts than at Allen College (about $40,710 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $19,516.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California College of the Arts than at Allen College (96% vs. 0%).

California College of the Arts vs. Allen College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or Allen College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Allen College and California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Allen College - Not reported.
• Typical fall application deadline: Allen College Feb 1, 2027.

California College of the Arts vs. Allen College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and Allen College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Allen College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from Allen College earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Allen College graduates have a $11,250 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($16,750 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Allen College graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($173 vs. $289).
• More Allen College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.