CalArts vs. Simon's Rock

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Simon's Rock based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Bard College at Simon's Rock is in Great Barrington, MA (Distant Town setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College at Simon's Rock is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Bard College at Simon's Rock 6:1.

CalArts vs. Simon's Rock Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Simon's Rock? 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 Bard College at Simon's Rock than CalArts ($41,013 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 25% lower than at Bard College at Simon's Rock ($14,134 vs. $18,852).
• Bard College at Simon's Rock is 16.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than CalArts (about $9,784 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $58,996.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.6% higher at Simon's Rock than at California Institute of the Arts (about $9,784 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $58,996.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bard College at Simon's Rock than at California Institute of the Arts (99% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College at Simon's Rock students is 99.1% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($42,635 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Simon's Rock Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Simon's Rock? 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 Simon's Rock and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Simon's Rock - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; Simon's Rock Jun 1, 2027.
• Simon's Rock has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 53.6% at Simon's Rock.

CalArts vs. Simon's Rock Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Simon's Rock? 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).

• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $10,500 more per year than Simon's Rock graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College at Simon's Rock graduates have a $14,000 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($14,500 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Simon's Rock graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($149 vs. $294).
• More Simon's Rock graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.