CalArts vs. Alma College

Comparable Facts

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

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Alma College based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 1,197 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Alma College is in Alma, MI (Distant Town setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Alma College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Alma College 14:1.

CalArts vs. Alma College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Alma College? 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 Alma College than CalArts ($22,094 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 0.3% lower than at Alma College ($14,134 vs. $14,180).
• California Institute of the Arts is 19.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Alma College (about $9,444 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.1% higher at CalArts than at Alma College (about $9,444 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $49,552.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Alma College than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Alma College students is 94.3% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($41,618 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Alma College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Alma 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 Alma College and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Alma College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Alma College has a higher acceptance rate (57%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 9.6% at Alma College.

CalArts vs. Alma College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Alma 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).

• Alma College's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than California Institute of the Arts's (65%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Alma College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Alma College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Alma College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($279 vs. $294).
• More Alma College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 64%)

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.