CalArts vs. Hampshire College

Comparable Facts

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

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Hampshire College based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 844 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Hampshire College is in Amherst, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hampshire College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Hampshire College 13:1.

CalArts vs. Hampshire College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Hampshire College? 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 Hampshire College than CalArts ($27,895 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 11.4% lower than at Hampshire College ($14,134 vs. $15,958).
• California Institute of the Arts is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hampshire College (about $100 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $58,896.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at CalArts than at Hampshire College (about $100 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $58,896.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hampshire College than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampshire College students is 115.5% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($46,145 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Hampshire College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Hampshire College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; Hampshire College Jan 15, 2027.
• Hampshire College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 14.4% at Hampshire College.

CalArts vs. Hampshire College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Hampshire 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).

• California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Hampshire College's (61%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $13,300 more per year than Hampshire College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $37,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have a $4,969 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($23,531 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($243 vs. $294).
• More Hampshire College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.