CalArts vs. College of Saint Mary

Comparable Facts

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

California Institute of the Arts is larger than College of Saint Mary based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 786 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); College of Saint Mary is in Omaha, NE (Large City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Saint Mary is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; College of Saint Mary 8:1.

CalArts vs. College of Saint Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary than CalArts ($17,078 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Saint Mary are 35.7% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($9,084 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 140.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Saint Mary (about $34,486 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $24,510.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 140.7% higher at CalArts than at College of Saint Mary (about $34,486 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $24,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Saint Mary 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 13.6% larger than aid received by College of Saint Mary students ($21,416 vs. $18,847).

CalArts vs. College of Saint Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or College of Saint Mary? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between College of Saint Mary and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; College of Saint Mary - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• College of Saint Mary has a higher acceptance rate (44.7%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 35.3% at College of Saint Mary.

CalArts vs. College of Saint Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and College of Saint Mary? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than College of Saint Mary's (30%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $9,100 more per year than College of Saint Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $41,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Saint Mary graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($26,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, College of Saint Mary graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($268 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Saint Mary students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 59%)

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.