CalArts vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

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

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Centra College 3:1.

CalArts vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

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

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 12.1% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($12,424 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 354.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centra College (about $46,013 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 354.4% higher at CalArts than at Centra College (about $46,013 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at Centra College (95% vs. 0%).

CalArts vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Centra College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 0% at Centra College.

CalArts vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Centra 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).

• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than Centra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $16,458 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($12,042 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $170 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($124 vs. $294).
• More Centra College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.