CalArts vs. Carolina University

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Carolina University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Carolina University based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 880 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Carolina University is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Midsize City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carolina University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Carolina University 17:1.

CalArts vs. Carolina University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Carolina University? 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 Carolina University than CalArts ($20,412 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carolina University are 12.3% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($12,400 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 235.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carolina University (about $41,421 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $17,575.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 235.7% higher at CalArts than at Carolina University (about $41,421 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $17,575.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Carolina University 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 79.3% larger than aid received by Carolina University students ($21,416 vs. $11,947).

CalArts vs. Carolina University Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Carolina University - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Carolina University has a higher acceptance rate (39.5%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 26.5% at Carolina University.

CalArts vs. Carolina University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Carolina University? 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).

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.