CalArts vs. Cornish College of the Arts

Comparable Facts

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

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Cornish College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Cornish College of the Arts is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornish College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Cornish College of the Arts 6:1.

CalArts vs. Cornish College of the Arts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Cornish College of the Arts? 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 Cornish College of the Arts than CalArts ($41,758 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 11.8% lower than at Cornish College of the Arts ($14,134 vs. $16,030).
• California Institute of the Arts is 41.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cornish College of the Arts (about $17,312 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $41,684.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.5% higher at CalArts than at Cornish College of the Arts (about $17,312 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $41,684.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cornish College of the Arts 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 15.7% larger than aid received by Cornish College of the Arts students ($21,416 vs. $18,515).

CalArts vs. Cornish College of the Arts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Cornish College of the Arts? 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 Cornish College of the Arts and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Cornish College of the Arts - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Cornish College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (62.2%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 19.3% at Cornish College of the Arts.

CalArts vs. Cornish College of the Arts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Cornish College of the Arts? 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).

• California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Cornish College of the Arts's (45%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $18,700 more per year than Cornish College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornish College of the Arts graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Cornish College of the Arts graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($279 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornish College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 63%)

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.