California College of the Arts vs. Bluefield University

Comparable Facts

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

California College of the Arts is larger than Bluefield University based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 959 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Bluefield University is in Bluefield, VA (Remote Town setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bluefield University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Bluefield University 14:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Bluefield University Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bluefield University than California College of the Arts ($22,216 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bluefield University are 57.1% lower than at California College of the Arts ($9,480 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 125% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bluefield University (about $33,456 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $26,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 125% higher at California College of the Arts than at Bluefield University (about $33,456 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $26,770.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California College of the Arts than at Bluefield University (96% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 62% larger than aid received by Bluefield University students ($32,953 vs. $20,341).

California College of the Arts vs. Bluefield University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or Bluefield University? 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 Bluefield University and California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Bluefield University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman California College of the Arts students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Bluefield University (3.31).
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Bluefield University (59.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 18.5% at Bluefield University.

California College of the Arts vs. Bluefield University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and Bluefield University? 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).

• California College of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Bluefield University's (36%).
• Graduates from Bluefield University earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,700 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bluefield University graduates have a $7,166 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($20,834 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Bluefield University graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($215 vs. $289).
• More California College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bluefield University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 51%)

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.