CalArts vs. College Unbound

Deciding between California Institute of the Arts and College Unbound? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Institute of the Arts

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • CalArts Valencia, CA
  • College Unbound Providence, Rhode Island
  • Setting
  • CalArts Midsize Suburban
  • College Unbound Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • CalArts 1,277
  • College Unbound 494
  • Type
  • CalArts Private 4 Year
  • College Unbound Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CalArts
  • College Unbound
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CalArts -
  • College Unbound -
  • Status
  • CalArts Non-profit
  • College Unbound Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CalArts
  • College Unbound
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CalArts $58,996
  • College Unbound $11,016
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CalArts $58,996
  • College Unbound $11,016
  • Room & Board
  • CalArts $14,134
  • College Unbound $16,200
  • Average Net Price
  • CalArts $56,239
  • College Unbound $20,645
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CalArts $21,416
  • College Unbound $6,493
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CalArts 95%
  • College Unbound 93%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CalArts 2,004
  • College Unbound -
  • Admitted
  • CalArts 648
  • College Unbound -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CalArts 32.3%
  • College Unbound Open
  • Enrolled
  • CalArts 27.9%
  • College Unbound Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CalArts
  • College Unbound
  • Typical ACT score
  • CalArts
  • College Unbound
  • Average High School GPA
  • CalArts -
  • College Unbound -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CalArts -
  • College Unbound -
  • Admissions Standards
  • CalArts Unavailable
  • College Unbound Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CalArts High
  • College Unbound
  • ACT Range
  • CalArts
  • College Unbound
  • SAT Range
  • CalArts
  • College Unbound
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CalArts Test-free
  • College Unbound Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • CalArts Jan 5, 2027
  • College Unbound
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CalArts 7:1
  • College Unbound 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CalArts
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • College Unbound
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CalArts 65%
  • College Unbound -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CalArts $50,400
  • College Unbound N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CalArts 64%
  • College Unbound -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CalArts $28,500
  • College Unbound N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CalArts $294
  • College Unbound N/A
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CalArts 41%
  • College Unbound 29%
  • % Women
  • CalArts 59%
  • College Unbound 71%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CalArts Very High
  • College Unbound -
  • HBCU
  • CalArts No
  • College Unbound No
  • % White
  • CalArts 42%
  • College Unbound 0%
  • % Asian
  • CalArts 16%
  • College Unbound 0%
  • % Black
  • CalArts 7%
  • College Unbound 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • CalArts 15%
  • College Unbound 0%
  • % Native American
  • CalArts 1%
  • College Unbound 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CalArts 1%
  • College Unbound 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CalArts 6%
  • College Unbound 0%
  • % International
  • CalArts 7%
  • College Unbound 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CalArts 8%
  • College Unbound 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CalArts 36%
  • College Unbound 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CalArts 39%
  • College Unbound 31%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CalArts Yes
  • College Unbound No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CalArts No
  • College Unbound
  • Meal Plan
  • CalArts Yes
  • College Unbound No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CalArts No
  • College Unbound Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CalArts No
  • College Unbound

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with College Unbound in Providence, Rhode Island on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than College Unbound based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 494 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); College Unbound is in Providence, Rhode Island (Midsize City setting).
  • California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College Unbound is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; College Unbound 11:1.

CalArts vs. College Unbound Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or College Unbound? 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 Unbound than CalArts ($20,645 vs. $56,239).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 12.8% lower than at College Unbound ($14,134 vs. $16,200).
  • California Institute of the Arts is 435.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College Unbound (about $47,980 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $11,016.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 435.5% higher at CalArts than at College Unbound (about $47,980 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $11,016.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at College Unbound (95% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 229.8% larger than aid received by College Unbound students ($21,416 vs. $6,493).

CalArts vs. College Unbound Admissions comparison

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

  • College Unbound reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; College Unbound - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.

CalArts vs. College Unbound Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and College Unbound? 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.