CIIS vs. CalArts

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of Integral Studies 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 Institute of Integral Studies is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (1,874 students vs. 1,277 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of Integral Studies is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); California Institute of the Arts is in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• California Institute of Integral Studies 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 Institute of Integral Studies 15:1; California Institute of the Arts 7:1.

CIIS vs. CalArts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CIIS or CalArts? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• In-state tuition differs between California Institute of the Arts and CIIS ($58,996.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between CalArts and California Institute of Integral Studies ($58,996.00 vs. $0.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at California Institute of Integral Studies (95% vs. 0%).

CIIS vs. CalArts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CIIS or CalArts? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CalArts and CIIS.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CIIS - Not reported; CalArts - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.

CIIS vs. CalArts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CIIS and CalArts? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate is 65%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for CIIS.
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts have median earnings of about $50,400 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for CIIS.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Institute of Integral Studies graduates have a $9,750 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($18,750 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, CIIS graduates have an estimated $101 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($193 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CIIS students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 45%)

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.