CalArts vs. AAC

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Art Academy of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than AAC based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 213 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Art Academy of Cincinnati is in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Art Academy of Cincinnati 9:1.

CalArts vs. AAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or AAC? 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 Art Academy of Cincinnati than CalArts ($33,491 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Academy of Cincinnati are 24.6% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($10,660 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 42.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than AAC (about $17,621 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $41,375.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.6% higher at CalArts than at Art Academy of Cincinnati (about $17,621 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $41,375.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Art Academy of Cincinnati than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 10.1% larger than aid received by Art Academy of Cincinnati students ($21,416 vs. $19,460).

CalArts vs. AAC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or AAC? 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 AAC and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; AAC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; AAC Aug 1, 2027.
• AAC has a higher acceptance rate (34.5%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 11.4% at AAC.

CalArts vs. AAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and AAC? 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 Art Academy of Cincinnati's (44%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $20,000 more per year than AAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $30,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Art Academy of Cincinnati graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, AAC graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($279 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAC students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 55%)

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.