California College of the Arts vs. CalArts

Comparable Facts

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

California College of the Arts is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 1,277 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); California Institute of the Arts is in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; California Institute of the Arts 7:1.

California College of the Arts vs. CalArts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or CalArts? 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 California College of the Arts than CalArts ($46,823 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 36% lower than at California College of the Arts ($14,134 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CalArts (about $1,230 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $58,996.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at California College of the Arts than at California Institute of the Arts (about $1,230 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $58,996.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California College of the Arts than at California Institute of the Arts (96% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 53.9% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($32,953 vs. $21,416).

California College of the Arts vs. CalArts Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; CalArts - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 27.9% at CalArts.

California College of the Arts vs. CalArts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and CalArts? 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 Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California College of the Arts graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($28,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, California College of the Arts graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($289 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.